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T1TT3 


C0L1ECT30N 

OF 

NORTH     CAROLINiANA 


!I3I!F10M^ 


i,inii«ii'Hi'ii»iii|i""!i|iVi'iilii'Hf| 


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«•:'•' 


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POOR  PET]^R's 

i^    i\    X-j    L-i 

TO  ^IS 

CHILDREN, 

>.ND    TO    ALL    OTHERS    WHO    CAN  HEAR 
AND    BELIEVE. 


BY  PETER   CLEM  MO. VS,  Senr. 

SulLISEURy,  (n.  c.) 

PRINTED  BY  COUPEE  AND  CRIDER, 

1812. 


©eo5C»8S802«r>seo!?ess«ees«SGC5SCCC«co 
PREFACE. 

Dear    Children, 

IT  has  been  thirty  years^  a7id  I  believe  up' 
vjards^  since  my  nuidwas  first  moved  with  a 
desire   to  wVite  someUiing  for  your  instruction 
in  th-  way  of  rigJtteousnesSy    which  you   all 
might  peruse  and  meditate  on^  when  my  body 
lies  speechless  in  the  silent  grave ;  ,that  by  read- 
ing what  I  have  wrote^   you  might  remember 
the  griefs  and  sorrows  I  have  had.  on  your  acz 
county  lest  any  of  you  should  be  inticedwith  the 
pleasing  fruits  of  Egypt^    to  stay   in  that  cor- 
ruptable  land^    until  God's   merciful  visitation 
was  over.      But  before  I  begun  I  met  with  se- 
veral    discouragements^  fjarticidarly  when   I 
thought  oj  my  weakness  in  learning  ;  for  I  am 
a  poor     scholar^    yet   when     I   write  Ihnoxo 
what  I  mean ,  but  for  thezvant  of  the  true  hiow- 
ledge  oj  speling  and  grammar^   there  might  be 
avothc  meaning  put  en  my  writing  from  what 
I  intended  it^  and  for  this  reason  I  was  often 
discouraged  \  also^  when  I  tho't  oj  the  precious 
instruction  oj  the  New-Testament,  what  more 
cou'd  be  done  that   had  nut  already  been  done. 
Thus  the  discourager  tried  to  put   me  ojf^  but 
the  encouraging  Lord,  the  lover  oj  righteous- 
?ics^\  put  me  ii  mind  of  the  widow  and  her  two 
mites,  and  the  thoughts  of  that  ojffering  being 
greater  than  aiU  it  encouraged  me  to  write  the 
following  to  my  children   and  to  ill  who  will 
r've  the,rtsehcs  time  to  peruse  it^ 


Poor  Peters  call   to  his  Children,  ^c. 


Or 


CHAPTER  I. 

Our  spiritual  travel  to  a  Chris  thin  life. 


ruY  clear  children  !  the  day  light  has  appeared, 
and  the  Sun  is  rising,  awake  my  dear  children,  ior  the 
Lord  is  'calling,^  that  yon «iay  rise  and  go  to  the  ^vork  ot 
the  Lord  ;  which  work  you  cannot  do  without  0112  to  in- 
struct you  ;  hut  the  Father  of  all  mercies  has  provided 
one  in  the  midst  of  his  love,  to  instruct  you  ai)d  all  others 
ill  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  which  work  is  for  your  ov>  /- 
goofl,  and  when  done  will  he  for  the  glory  of  God. 

Now  dear  children,  the  things  that  are  visible  is  ns  • 
finger  pointing  to  the  things  that  are  invisible,  ai.. 
man  cannot  see  and  discern  cle&rly  his  own  features 
out  the  help  of  som-e  instrument  or  glass,  yet  by  the  ..  .,. 
of  such  instrument,  a  man  can  understand  his  own  ake- 
nrss  ;  so  then  as  it  is,  by  the  help  of  eartlily means  v.e  un- 
^lerstand  earthly  things,  and  it  has  pleased  God  to  make 
use  of  earthly  means  to  give  us  an  idea  of  spiritual  things, 
for  as  the  children  of  Israel  beibre  Jacob  and  his  family 
v.'t^nt'into  Egypt,  was  an  eip.blem  of  our  first  station  of 
life  before  we  eat  the  forbidden  fruit,  so  was  his^statioii 
while  the  children  of  Israel  were  in  bondage  to  Pharaoh 
king  of  Egypt,  a  type  or  f.gure,  of  our  secorMi  stalion  c': 
life,  which  is  a  state  of  sin  and  bondage  to  serve  diver^i 
lusts,  being  under  the  power  of  the  king  of  darkjies^,  -a.? 
Israel  was  under  the  power  of  the  king  of  Egypt.  And 
as  Israel's  third  station  was  in  travelling  from  Egv] 
the  promised  land,  it  was  a  figu.-t*  of  our  third  station  ui 
life,  if  we  ever  come  to  be  christians.  And  as  Ir^rael'." 
fourth  station  of  life  was  attained  to,  it  was  a  figi; 
fourth  station  of  life,  which  is, a  christian  life,  and  oiighr 
to  be  desired  and  sought  for,  more  than  for  ail  the  gbld 
and  silver  or  any  other  thing  in  this  world  (xf  time  ;'  for 
aitho'  we  cannot  live   comfortablv  in  this  ivorld  w' 


(      4     ) 

the  t^  of  gold  or  silvei  or  some  other  things  of  God's 
blesse-i  providence,  yet  these  riches  are  not  comparable 
to  the  riches  oFaxhristian  life,  given  to  all  that  enter  into 
the  fourth  station  of  life,  where  God  manifests  himself 
to  them  as  Christ  promised  to  those  that  loved  him  an^ 
kept  his  commundmenis  ;  for  Israel's  fourth  station  of  life 
was  that,  of  entering  and  getting  possession  of  the  promis- 
ed land,  after  a  tedious  travel  of  forty  years  through  a 
dangerous  wilderness,  where  m^ny  thousands  ©f  th5se 
v/ho  left  Israel's  second  station  of  life  and  entered  into 
the  third,  which  led  them  out  or  the  land  of  Egypt  intJ 
the  right  way  to  the  promised  land,  but  many  oLt^m  did 
not  hold  out  in  true  obedience  to  their  guide,  but  turned 
to  disobedience,  and  for  this  cciuse  Israel  wiisleftto  wan- 
der in  the  wilderness,  until  many  of  the  disobedient  pe^ 
rished,  ^Vitb_out  ever  enjoyivig  or,entering into  the  promised 
land,  which  fiowed  with  milk  and  honey  ;.  where  God 
multiplied  his  blessings  to  all  that  entered  therein.  Now 
the  thought  of  the  enjo^vi-neivt  of  tlue  blessing  of  God's, 
kind  providence,  in  milk  and  honey  being  so  plenty  as  to 
flow  with  it,  and  the  thoughts  of  being  a  he^  people,  were 
tli^  two  principal  reasons  that  led  Israel  to  undertake  so 
g-reat  a  journey,  which  might  have  been  accomplished  in 
a  small  part  of  the  time,  had- they  only  contiaiied'  in  obedi-- 
eace  to  the  end  as  they  were  in  the  beginning,  for  they  be- 
gun well,  and  would  have  ended  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
precious  fruits^,  of  that  land,  wlvich  God  promised  and: 
iaithfuUv' performed  to  all  that  held  out  in  trueoli^diente 
tc  the  end.  Now  mv  dear  children  I  pray  you  all  to  take 
these  four  stations  of  the  children  of  Israel'^  lif*;  and  tra- 
vel  into  your  serious  consideration,  and  let  them  be  as 
I:,  looking  glass  for  you  to  look  in,  for  if  you  are  careful! 
v.!  looking  und  comparing  your  spirituallife  with  the  four 
ernal  stations  of  the  beginning  ami  end  of  the  children 
ol  Israel's  life,  you  m.iy  bv  th^  light  of  the  spirit  of  Christ, 
^called  tlie  Q:r;ice  of  God,' which  hath,  and  does,  and  v,  ill 
appear  to.  all  men  ;  I  say^  by  the  help  of  this  light,  you 
ail  may  see  the  exact  features  of  your  own  faces,  in  look- 
inyj  into  the  first,  second,  third  and  foiTrth  stations  of  Is- 
rael life  ;  by  begianing  with  your  lirst  station,  and  com- 
paring it  with  L^rael's  first  station  of  life,  which  I  know 
you.  ail  spiritually  are  J  or  have  bee^    iu^,'and  compare  it 


(     5     ) 

i^ith  Israel's  secona  station  of  lite  before  he  left^^-pt. 
Believing  that  the  God  of  heiwen  has  visitedsomeoi  yoa 
bv  sending  his  spiritual  Meses  lo  visit  you  in  the  secret  of 
your  hearts,  O  that  it    may   please  him    to  continue    his 
lyerciful  visitation,  until  you  ail  take  your  spiritual  jour- 
ney and  go  out  of  Egypt,  fpr  if  any   of  you  rcmaineth  in 
spiritual  Egypt    until  your  mortal   body  dies,   you  pever 
^'ill,    nor  never  can  sensibly  enjoy   the  blessing   of  God, 
which  he  of  his  own  love  and  mercy   has  prepared  for  all 
^"lyho   leave  the  second  station  and  pass  through  the  third 
into  the  fourth   station  of  life,    wb.ich  is  a   true  Christian 
life  ;   ^ttf^^  "^'^^  ^^^  S^^  here  before  he  passeth  the  third 
station^^life,  and  ^11  who  die  before  ithey   enter  into  the 
fourth  station  of  life,  will  fall  short  of  the  enjoyment  of 
God's  blessing  in  this  life,  and  that  \*hich  is  lo  come. 

My  dear  children,  let   np   man   deceive  any  of  you,    to 
make  you  stopt  short  of  entering  the  fourth  station  of  life, 
which  is  in  the  spiritual  promised  land,  and  which  all  peo- 
ple m.ust  attain  to  this  side  of  the  grave,  or  fall  short  of  e- 
ternal.  rest  in  futurity.     Having    alreat'y  mentioned   the 
principal  causes  of  Israel's   leaving   Egypt   to  go  to   the 
promTfeed  land,  I  will  mention  the  particulars  :  had  it  not 
been    for  the  hope  of  enjoying  their   freedom   and    being 
partakers  of  the  blessed  rich  Iruits  which  grew  there,  they 
would  all  have   groaned   and  mourned,  and    died  in    the 
land  of  £g\pt,  and  never  have  enjoyed  their  freedom,  nor 
been    partakers    of  the  rich  fruits  of  the  promised  land  ; 
neither  woiild  they  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  for 
it  did  not  appear  to  them  in  Egypt,  neither  did  they  knoMT 
it  whilst  in  bondage  ;  and  as  they  were  two  principal  in- 
ducements to  ihem,  so  my  dear  children   there  is   in  the 
same  like  manner  two  principal  things  that   move  all  peo- 
ple that  are  advanced  into  the  second  station  of  life,  that 
is  (living  in  spiritual  Egypt,)  to  leave  it  and  enter  into  the 
tl\ird  station  of  life,  as  Israel  did,  for  all  who  Jive  in  spi- 
ritual  Egypt  must  pass  the  third  stiition  before  they   can 
enter  tlie  fourtn  station  of  life,  to  the  enjoyment  of  that 
heavenly  land  which  flows  with  more  precious  things  than 
the  land  of  Canaan,  for  in  this  fourth  station   the}'  can  set 
down  every  man,   woman  and  child,  under  their  vine  and 
fig  tree,  and  there  is  none  that   can  make      tliem  alVaid^ 

A  2 


(  a  ) 

for  fhey  set  down  in  heavenlr  p'aees,  in  C!inst^ 
who^d  fruits  are  to  tiiem  sweeter  than  aii  the  milk  and  ho«^ 
nty  that  evet*  flowed  in  the  land  of  Canaan  ;"  foY'iri  this, 
their  fourth  station  of  Ute^  it  does  not  flow  asvvith  milk  of 
coWvS  which  will  turn  sour,  and  by  long  standing  stii.k", 
and  with  honey,  made  by  flying  bees  ;  but  it  flo5vs  with' 
the  sincere  miik  of  the  word  of  God,  and  the  s-weet  hone^r 
of  his  love,  which  flows  from  his  dear  presence  when  it 
pleaseth  him  to  visit  lis,  which  makes  his  |||omise  good,, 
for  here  v/e  keep  his  commandments,,  and-  for  ihis  he 
loves  us  and  iitakes  himself  manifest  to  us,  as  CJ^st  did 
promise  in  the  lithchapt.  of  St»  John,  21,22  & 2.3H|p;rses, 
whi^h  is  most  certainly  true,  for  all  who  cannot  bear  wit- 
ness to  these  truths  have  never  yet  entered  the  fourth 
station  that  I  speak  of,  and  are  strangers  to  the  kingdom 
ol  God.  And  O  !  me  dear  c^^iidren,  it  is,  and  has  been 
xny  earnest  desire  ?.^^d  prayer  to  God  tlvat  it  wpuld  please 
him  to  visit  you  all,  and  continue  his  merciful  visitation 
until  yoQ  '^re  made  sensible  of  the  great  necessity  there  is 
ftjr  ie:rving  your  second  station  of  life,  and  quickly  enter 
into  the  third,  tliat  is,  to  lea\  e  Egy])t  and  travel  in  the- 
Way  to  the  promised  land.  O  !  that  it  may  please  the- 
LordGod  of  heaven  to  send  his  holy  angtlto  be  your  guide 
into  the  promised  land,  for  no  man  can  find"  the  way  to  it 
withd'^t. hi?  gjLiide  ;  and  O  !  tlrat  you- may  all  submit  to 
pat  y<iarselve^  ande.r  his  holy  instruction,  until  you  all 
arrive  safe  byhis  v^uidance  intoj:iie  fourth  station,  that  of 
t:ie  proinised  l..:.d  ;  thenurid  there  you  will  be  made  able 
to  bear  witnes3  to  the  truths- that  1  now  write  to  you  and 
to  all  others  that  travel*  v/ it h  me,  now,  before,  or  after  me 
into"  the  pronii^ed'  land,  where  we  are  at!  redeemed  and 
made  free  frx:>  li  th  at  tyranical  yoke  of  sin,  that  keeps  men- 
and  women  in  such  hurd  bondage  whilst  in  the  second  sta» 
tion  of  life,  under  the  power  of  sin<  and  S-atan,  v/ho  is  the 
ruk^r  of  spiritual  Egypt,  Kei^e  divers  lusts  and  grievo'us 
sinful  passions,  which  is  the  cause  of  all  the  mournings, 
groanings  4t  sighings  of  all  who  ar^ iiro't  to  be  sensilDie  of 
their  miserable  state^andbcndage,  \5rhrlst  they  hear  of  the 
glo  ions  and  true  report  of  -he  liberty  and  freedom  o£ 
th.se  who  ha\  e  got  into  the"  promised  land,  where  they  are 
bL"i>u;.ht  to  be  partakers  wiili  tne  hoivsehold  of  farth,  and: 
jomcd  into  the  family  of  heaven  :.   there,  the/  are  ftitfi. 


(     7     ) 

from  the  desire- of  sin,  andtacir    onh' desire  ia^  to  liiVc^ 
obey,  praise,  henoj*iind  adore  tat:  king  ot  heuvtrn,  \vhu  is- 
Lord  aiid  Kinjj   over  uil  tne  promised  iand,    ror  here  his^ 
irone   is  established  in  rigjitcpusness,  ^l  h>^s  laws  are  in 
equity  and  justice,  and  adminisiered  in  love  over  his  sab- 
j.-cts;  f'Qrthis  is  the  kr..gdoiTi  that  difFeretbJrpm  all  other 
kingdoms  g^i    earth  ;  the  king    himselt  is  love,  he  ruleth 
^    over  his  subjects  in  love,  his  subjects  love  their  king,  they 
Jove  one  anothw.1^  they  love,  his  commandments,   his.  com- 
mandments are  no  ways  grievous  tp  them,    for  it  is  their 
"  delight  ^^bey  hfm  in  all  ;  and  as  the  king  by  his  divine 
-'  ihiowle^Pkrioweth    that  his    subjects  love    hia-  bv  their 
keeping,  111^  commandments,  so   the  king   himself  loveth 
is  suiJ^jeGtSy  and  manifests  himself  unto  them  ;  and  in  this 
manifestation  his    subjects   are  made  able    to  witness  the 
.   truth  of  that   which  is   in  the  scripture  of  truth,  that  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  should  cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  co- 
vereth   the  seas  ;  and  in^  these  blessed  and  happy    mani- 
festations, the  earth  is  trul}'  covered  with  the  glory  of  the 
Lecd,  which  earth  is  our  bodies  having  become  the  tem- 
leof  the  Lord  for  the  spirit  of  our  God-to  dwell  rh.^  And 
i«  this  heavenly  visitation  he  lifteth  up  thelightvof  his  holy 
.countenance  on  US)  which  liils  our  hearts  w.ith  *  the  over- 
flowing of  his  love,  and  in  these  happy  times  we  are  made 
onsible  of  his    goodnsss  ;.  and  being  sensible  of  his  good- 
liess,  we  then  are  filiedwith  the  spirit  of  true  thanksgiving 
and  praises  to  our  king  who  lives  forever,  in  the  unfeign- 
-;  "^e^i  language  of  glorifying  hinrr,  not  onl^-  for  all  the  mercies 
•  that  we  ourselves  have  received    of  the  Lord:,   in  stiving 
arid  redeeming  us  from  the  land  of  sin  and  the  hard  bon- 
dage  of  iniquity,  where  so  mi^ny    of  us  laboured,  but  a- 
bove  ail  things  our    shameful  work    in    servrag  so  many 
disgraceful  lusts  whilst  we  were  in  the  land  of  Egypt,    in 
onr  second  station  ;  for  surely  it  is  of  the  Lord's  love  and 
mercy  that  we  were- not  consumed  as  Sodom   and  GorriO« 
i'ah  were^  forean  it  be  possible  ^hat  cheii:  wickedness  \  as 
35  great aseurs  in  thi^  present  generation,  to  !)esr  a  com- 
parison I  their  sins  were  of  giviVig    themselves  over    :o 
fornication:  and  gaing  after  strsnge flesh,  J ude,   7  ver.  for.^ 
which  they  wer€  destroyed  as  by  fi::€^.vvnich  m-^dt  m\  ex-- 
ample  of  them.      And    i»  it  not  of  tht^VLord^s    rr.ercy  ihaS'. 
aiiiiiat  h^ii^ii. act  kf^  the-s^coiid  stc^ioa  ars  not  consiuiQ^di, 


(  »  ) 

O  I  my  dear  children,  let  iis  consider  'our  sins  and  ihtt 
sins  ot  all  the  inhabitants  of  spiritual  Egypt.,  and  we  shall 
see  chat  they  are  very  great.     And  as  I  said,  not  only  for 
his  mercies  in  saving  us  from  all  the  sins  which  we  com- 
mitted whilst  ive  were  in   our  .second  station,  but    for  all 
his  mercif^s  in  saving  and  redeem uig  us  from  the  many  e-» 
^vils  and  dangers  that  beset  us  in  our  third  station,  while 
travelling  from  the  land  of  sin  and  wickedness'' to  the  land 
of  righteousness,    where  the  glory  of  the  Lord   covers   it 
as  the  water  covers  the  sea,  and  where  the  Lord's  meek 
ones  inherits    the  earth  ;  and    in   this  happy   land    of  the 
fourth    station,  wKvre  our  king's  glory  coversJjM  we  do 
not  only  ^iv«  him  thanks  in  the  spirit  of  true  thaSsgiving 
for  all   the  favours  he  has   bestowed  «>n  us,  but  for  thoset, 
bestow  ed  on  all  human  beings,  from  the  beginning  to  this 
day  in   every  stage  of  their  lives,  auil  for  ail  his  mercies 
bestowed  on  his  preserved  angels  and  saints  in  glory  ;  for 
it  is  by  his  love  and  mercy  that    all  what    is  preserved  is 
preserved  ;  and  all  who  attain  to  tlie  fourth *stution  do  not 
only  praise  him  for  those  nrvercites,  but  also  for  his  provi- 
dential care  of  all  the   work    of  his  holy  hands,  by  which 
the  beasts  of  the  field,     the  fowls   of  the  air,  the  fishes  of 
the  sea,  and  every  living  thing  that  hath  life  and  moveth 
on  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  are  made  able  to  praise  him, 
as  one  did  hear  them  praise  him  in  his  revelation  ;  and  if 
these  praise  the  Lord,  (and  they  certainly  do)  shall  we  not 
praise  him  ?      O  yes !    we  sh  11  praise  him  for  all  the  fa- 
vours he  bestowed  an   his  creatures    that  live  in  heaven, 
earth  and  sea,  and  not   only  with  our  lips,  as   some  pro- 
fessors do  before  they  leave  their  second  station,  wheieia 
they  make  great  profession    with   their   mouths,    but  by 
their  deeds  deny  the  Lord  our  God,  by  not  suffering  him 
to  redeem  them.     But  as  for  us,  we  know  the  mercies  of 
our  God,  that  he  has  redeemed  us  from  the  land  of  Egypt 
and  from  the  house  of  shameful  bondage,  we  know  by  his 
redeeming  love  and  the  gift  of  his  boh    spirit,   by  whose 
power  we  art-  rais'jd  from  the  dead  works  of  sin  to  the  liv- 
ing works  of  righieou.'^ness,  by  the  Srwing  and  redeeming 
hand  of  our  God,  which  huh  raised  us  from  the    dead, 
snd  halh  calied  us  out  of  the  kingdom  of  da-kness,  where 
v;e  had  our  second  habitation,  into  his  glorious  king<Jom 
of  Ughtj  peace  and  love-in  the  house  of  our  God^  m  the 


,      C   9   ) 

heavenly  places, '  in  Christ  our  Lord;  wliere  both  the 
Father  and  the  Son  make  themselves  manifest  to  us  that 
are  not  only  hearers  of  his  word,  but  doers  of  the  sanrie  ;  for 
which  we  are  made  able  to  praise  the  Lord  in  the  spirit  of 
true  thanksgiving'  ;  it  is  easy  and  delightful,  it  is  the  fruits 
of  the  tree  of  life,  which  brings  forth  the  fruits  of  praise, 
not  only  from  our  lips,  but  fr  an  the  fountain  of  God's  love, 
which  he  hath  made  to  How  in  our  hearts  like  the  little 
streams  of  living  water  that  flow  from  the  temple  of  tlie 
Lord,  and  which  now  stands  in  the  promised  land,  v,^here 
he  has  been  pleased  to  put  his  holy  name,  thatatlhis  faith- 

..  ial  subjelfets  in-iy  call  on  it  and  be  saved  ;  and-  they  can  de- 
clare in  truth  tliat  they  are  saved  from  all  the  works 
of  sin,  and  from  all  the  desires  thereof  ;  for  the  tree  that 
bears  the  fruit  of  evil  desire  is  cut  down  and  destroyed 
out  of  this  hoiy  land.  In  tie  beginning  of  the  establish- 
ment of  his  holy  kirigdom-in  this  holyland  he  said,  "  The 
ax  is  la«l  to  the  root  of  that  tree  which  brings  the  fruit'of 
evil  desire,*'  and  as  it  was  not  good,  it  \9as  to  be  hewed 
down  and  cast  into  the  fire,  which  destroyed  it  from  his 
holy  kingdom,  and  no  unclean  things  can  grow  there.-—' 
And  as  I  said  before,  the  kingdom  of  our  God  diiTers^ 
from  all  other  kingdoms  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  he  is  the 
king  of  the  promised  land,  the  great  and  good  tree  ot 
life  which  brings  forth  the  good  fruits  of  love  and  peace 
that  are  offered  to  all  the  children  of  men  ;  but  all  other 
kiitgdonis  are  covered  over  with  the  corruptable  tree,. 
bringing  forth  evil  fruits  ;  their  kings  are  kings  of  war, 
filled  v/ith  pride  and  ambition,  and  by  this   woeful  spirit 

„  ofwar  and  bloodshed,  they  bring  destruction  and  misery 
on-their  distressed  subjects,  without  considering  the  aw- 
ful-consequence  of  theirbeing  found  with  the  destroying- 
angel,  whom  God  will  in  the  day  of  h^s  judgment  cause, 
to  give  an  account  of  their  destroying  the  work  of  his  ho- 
ly hands,  with  the  encreased  miseries  they  have  brought 
on  the  poor  widows  and  fatherless,  by  the  death  of  their 
husbands  and  fathers  ;  for  their  oppression  in  compelling 
their  subjects  to  submit  to  all  their  d'estroving  commands, 
for  if  they  say  ^o  face  that  army  armed  at  all  points,  and 
in  the  conflict  thereof  they  know  that  thousands  must  be 
&lain,  they  dare  not  refuse:  for  in  obeying  ir  is  sure  death  to. 
many,  &  in  di&obeylng  it  is  rebellion,  which. brings  death* 


(      10     ) 

My  dear  fellow  creatures,  li  you  would  only  open  your 
eyes  and  behold  the  great  difference  between  the  king  of 
the  promised   land  and  the  kings   of  Kgypt,  and  all  other 
such  like  kings,  you  will  find  in  their  kingdon)s  all  man- 
nerof  evils,  such  as  murder,  adultery,  whoredom,  thefts 
and   covetousness   of  many  kinds,  with  every  bad  words 
and  deeds  that  can  be  committed  under  the  Sun,     which 
deprives  all  of  peace  &  love  v/ith  both  God  and  men,     I 
pray  all  of  you  who  may  see  or  hear  this,  to  call  on  the 
Lord  my  God  and  pray  unto  him  to  be  pleased  to  send  his 
deliverhng  acgel  to  save  &  redeem  you  from  your  misera- 
ble yoke  of^iii  and  transgression,    and  to  bring  you  safe 
through  the  third  station  of  life  into  the  fourth,  vvhere  you 
maybe  the  happy  subjects  of  my  God  in  the  kingdom  of 
peace  and  love,  and  where  the  destroyer  cannot  com.e. — 
It  has  and  will  be  my  sincere  prayer  to  God  that  you  might 
be  brought  into  this  happy  kingdom  before  your  bodies 
are  laid  in  the  silent  grave  ;  for  if  you  are  not  brought  h\ 
this  side  of  the  grave,  you  will  not  be  permitted  afterwards, 
all  who  die  out  of  this  happy   kingdom  will  be  dedd,,  and 
TiOne  of  them  will  have  entrance,    for  my  king  is  not  the 
king  and  God  of  the  dead,  but  is  the  king  and  God  cftlie 
living  who  have  heard  and   obeyed  his  voice,  even  the 
gospel  trum])et,  which  is  to   awaken  the  dtad*who  die  in- 
trespass  and  sin  ;  and  all  who  awake  to  the  resurrection  of 
true    obedience    shall    rise  to  the  resurrection  of  life,  and 
be   brought  into     the  promised  land   by  the  guidance  of 
the  angel  of  my  God,    sect  to  seek    and  ^ave  all  the  lost 
?heep  of  the  house  of  Israel,  not  only  them,  but  every  bu- 
rn an  being  that  is,  has  been,  or  v.- ill  be  born  of  woman  in 
this  world  of  time,  will  escape  his  merciful  and  loving  vi- 
sitation ;  for  he  is  sent  to  all,  and  will  call  on  all  that  are 
and  will  be,  inviting  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men.  Thia 
is  what   tl^e  Fattier    of  ail  mercies    haih  sent  bin',  to   doj 
and  there  is  ^  other  angel  or  man  appeinttd  to  this  work, 
but  that  spirit  or  angel  dwelling  in  Jesus  Christ,  whose  bo- 
dy was  crucified  above  seventeen  hundred  vears  ago,  (ac- 
cording to  the  account  recorded  in  the  scriptures)  raised 
again,  and  ascended  into  heaven  in    that  precious  body, 
where  ithas  eternal  rest  in  the  glory  of  the  Father;  which 
glory  the  said  angp)  or  spirii  had  with  the  Father  before  it 
catered  into  vromb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,     This  is  the  very 


(  11  ) 

Christ  which  came  dowj.  iio-n  aeaven,  and  the  light  t}^t 
eniightent-h  uvttry  one  coming  iato  the  world  |  he  is  ihe 
bread  that  curue  do.wii  Iroxn  heaven,  andtde  life  of  all  ttiat 
eat  thereof  i  all  w  ho  refuse  to  eat  ofi  this  bread  btiore  tiiey 
are  cail-id  to  go  hence,  where  they  are  seen  no  m^re  of 
men,  vnh  go  without  any  life  in  ih^m  j  for  he  who  is  the 
}v  r  has  declared,  that  except  we  do  At  the  flesh 

an.i  ui  .r-K  ihe  blood  of  die  Son  of  m^tn,  we  should  have  no 
life  in   us  ;  and  he  has  further  declared  thai  his  flesh  is 
meet  indeed,  and  that  his  blood  i^  drink  indeed,  and  that 
-whosoever  should  eat  and  drml:  thereof  shotsid  live  for- 
ever.    Now  he  is  ready  to  give  his  blood  to  all  who  will 
arise,  open  and  receive  him  in  his  merxiiful  and  loving  vi- 
sitation rforheis,  has   been  and  will  be  standing  at  the 
door '  of     the    hearts     of    the     sons      and      daughters 
of  men,  kncckino;  with  a  loving  desire  they  should  opefi  h 
let  him  come  into  them,  wherein  he  would  spread  the  hea- 
venly table,  set  that  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven, 
and  pour  out  the  wine  of  his  Father's   kingdom  ipto  the 
tup  of  his  salvation.     He  lovmgiy  mvites  ail  that  will  o- 
pen  to  sup  with  him,  and  if  they  will  sup  with  him,  he  will 
aup  with  them  ;  this  is  the  time  in  truth  wherein  man  is 
'uade  partaker    of  the  Lord's  supper,  for  it  is  the  Lord's 
upper  indeed  ;  and  all  who  eat  of  this  supper  are  worthy, 
because  it  is  the  Lord  himself  that  spread  the  table,  and 
put  the  bread  and  wine  thereon,  in  which  they  can  discern 
his  body,  ap^d  in  dlsceri-ing  they    hear  his  voice   in  his 
lovely  invitation  saying,  eat  oi  his  bread  and  drink  ot  ins 
wine,  which  is  his  spirit  coine  down  from  heaven,  called 
in  the  scriptures  the  bread  of  life  ;  which  did  not  come  of 
itself,  but    the   Father    sent  it,  that  it  might  be  the  light 
&  life  of  the  sons  and  daughters  af  men  that  received  it. 
It  is  the  angels'  bread,  on  which    they  live,  praise,  wor- 
ship and  adore   the  holy   one  cf  heaven  ;  it   is  also   the 
Saints'  bread  which  was  so  bruised  on  account  of  our  sins 
and  transgressions.     But  now  it  is  the  bread  of  life,  and 
gives  life  and  salvation  to  ail  that  receive  it;  it  gives  them 
a  sensibility  of  (jod's  love  in  sending  them    angels'  lood 
to  eat  whilst   on    earth,  and   by  eating   thereof  they   are 
strengthened  to  praise  him,  be  they  of  v/hat  colour  or  na- 
tion u'hatsoever;  this  bread  being  the  love  of  God,  and 
being  filled  therewith,  they  love  and   praise  him  on  earth 


(      12    ■) 

"'R'ltli'Ril  their  ^.esrts,  r/ith  all  thtir  souls,  and-vvitli  all  theii 
strength  ;  antl  if  they  had  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand 
tongues,  hearts  and  souls,  they  would  put  them  all  in  that 
<iel!ghtiul  \iork  of  praising  the  Lord  ;  ior  his  loye  is  so 
sweet  to  the  taste  of  their  souls,  that  they  do  not  only 
offer  up  to  God  the  sacrifice  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
themselves,  butthey  want  all  people  who  have  the  b/eath 
of  life  to  come  and  praise  him  lor  all  his  goodness  and 
merciful  loving  kindness,  already  bestowed  on  all  human 
beings,  and  other  creatures  that  have  been  made  and  cre- 
ated by  his  loving  power  and  goodness,  from  the  beginning 
to  this  day  ;  but  for  all  that  he  has  yet  laid  up  in  store  for 
us  and  for  all  that  are  to  come,  for  there  are  j'^t  many 
more  to  be  born  to  receive  his  goodness.  There  is  no 
goodness  but  what  comes  from  the  Lord,  it  makes  all  saints 
and  angels  love  him,  and  gives  that  tender  and  merciful 
feeling  that  ever  was  or  ever  will  be  in  the  hearts  of  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  men. 

My  dear  children,  1  want  you  all,  and  not  only  )^ou, 
but  above  all  things  your  dear  mother,  who  has  in  great 
sorrow  and  pain  bora  and  brought  you  unto  me,  as  so 
many  gifts  ot  God,  to  leave  Lgypt  your  second  station  of 
sin  and  misery,  and  enter  your  third  station  and  travel  to 
the  fourth  station  of  life,  into  the  kingdom  of  my  God, 
v;here  he  will  freely  receive  and  feed  you  with  the  bread 
of  life,  which  will  strengthen  you  to  witness  the  truth  of 
God's  love  in  receiving  his  goodness  v.ith  me,  ycur  grey- 
headed fiuher  ;  but  I  long  lor  all  pr  ople  in  being,  that  are 
r.ov/  living  in  spiritual  Egypt,  in  the  bondage  of  sin,  that 
they  all  with  you,  and  you  with  them,  could  hear  the  trump 
of  God,  the  blowing  ct  the  wakening  alarm,  by  the  breath- 
ing of  his  spirit,  would  immediately  leave  your  second  sta- 
tion of  life  and  enter  into  the  third,  and  continue  your 
faithful  travels  in  true  obedience  to  the  holy  angel  of  God, 
who  will  be  a^-sure  guide  to  you,  like  the  cloudy  pillar  was 
to  Israel,  going  before  to  show  them  the  way  in  the  day, 
and  as  a  pillar  ol  fire  by  nighi,  which  kept  their  enemies 
from  hurting  them,^  and  gave  iigiit  in  their  dwellings,  I 
say  in  the  bowels  of  G  d'a  love  which  he  hath  ot  his  free 
goodness  given  me,  1  long  and  ^ray  i or  you  all,  not  only 
to  set  oil  i'.nd  travel  through  tht  third -station,  but  that  you 
may  be  faithiui  to  your  guide  until  you  come  to  the  straight 


(  15  ) 

gate  of  my  God's  kingdom,  whert  die  keeper  will  imme- 
diately open  diat  you  may  come  in  and  In  e  widi  me  in  the 
hou^e'of  n.y  God,  not'made  by  the  hands  of  men,  but  by 
his  holy  hands,  lor  me  and  all  others  \\ho  viU  enter  the 
foarth  station  of  life,    into  his  kingdom;  where  it   hath 


e 

.id 

worship  him  in  this  great  and  heavenly  meeting ;  here  is 
solemnity,  praise  ai]d  true  worship  indeed,  such  as  is  ac- 
ceptable to  the  Lord;  it  is  performed  by  the  assistance  of 
his  holy  spirit,  for  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  before  his 
spirit  moves  the  doing  of  it ;  his  s})irit  is  to  us  like  the 
cloud  was  to  Israel,  they  were  not  to  move  in  their  travels 
but  when  the  eloud  was  lifted  up  and  sat  forwiird  ;  they 
then  could  travel  in  the  safe  and  right  way.  So  is  the 
case  with  the  children  that  live  in  ni)  God's  kingdom; 
they  must  wait  until  he  sets  forth  his  worship,  for  this 
worship  is  not  like  that  of  other  kingdoms,  whtrt  many 
ministers  will  not  preach  without  monej-, neither  will  they 
leave  their  hoines  without  some  hope  of  earthly  gain. 

IVIy  dear  children^  it  has  been  and  is  my  sincere  j-.rayer 
to  the  Lord,  that  he  \v(»uid  awaken  all  our  of  their-Lgyp- 
tian  sleep,  to  that  life  where  they  might  consider  what  the 
consequences  will  be  if  they  are  found  in  ligypt  at  the 
end  of  time  ;  and  I  will  once  more  declare  unto  }Ou  all, 
(a§  the  Lord  has  declared  unto  me)  that  all  who  are  found 
in  spiritual  Lgypt  will  be  overthrown  as  th.e  Sodomites 
were  for  their  wickedness.  '1  he  overthrow  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorah  was  a  warning  to  all  others,  that  they  might  not 
sin  against  the  Lord  so  highly,  and  cause  him  to:withdra\v 
his  mci'cies  and  leave  thtm  in  the  hand  of  the  dtstro\  ing 
an^el,  who  will  not  oijly  dcstroj'  their  bodies  as  the  Sodom- 
ites, but. also  thtir  souls,  and  keep  thern  forever  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  and  the  glor}  of  his  power,  viv^n  he 
comes  in  the  ghjry  of  his  lathtr,  mii-.king.all  to, stand  before 
him,  some  on  his  rigiit  and  some  on  his  kit  l)and ;  aiid  all 
those  w  ho  did  leave  Egypt,  truveiltd  iu  d  entered  the 
fourth  station,  v,  ill  be  placed  or»  his  right  h'^nd  to  hear  his 
blessed  voice,  saying,  *'  Come  ye  blessed  of  my  faTher, 
inherit  the  kingdom  j^repared  fcryou  fieiii  the  foundation 

h 


(      14     ) 

of  the  wofjcl,"  nnd  prociaimmg  bcifore  all,  the  ^ood  deed» 
oi  those  who  foilov.ed  his  good  angei  througli  the  third 
into  tije  i\)urth  and  last  station  ;  Iro.m  thence  to  enter  into 
his  eitrnal  kingdom  of  love,  peace  and  joy,  v  herein  no 
wicked  men  can  come  to  disturb  their  peace  ;  for  the 
wicked  Egyptians  and  their  king,  and  all  the  inhabitants; 
of  the  earth  who  did  not  chuse  to  follow  the  angel  of  God's  v 
love:,  which  would  safely  have  brought  them  out  of  their 
second  and  third  station  into  the  fourth,  and  from  thence 
into  the  kingdom  of  m}'  God,  will  be  rejected. 

My  dear  wi^fe  and  children,  remember  that  i  said  that:- 
the  Lord  was   caliirg;  therefore    I  pray  you    to   forsake 
Egypt  and  all  her  sinful  ways,    and  to  follow  the  angei  of 
God,  which  he  hus  sent  to  )  0*11 ;  although  his  first  appear- 
ance n  ay  se^^m  to  some  of  you  hardly  worth  noticing,  as,. 
the   case  is  with  n'jany,    for   thousands   there  are    whose 
concljict   or  l.fc  declare  that  he  is  not   worth  their  notice, 
and  so  it  may  hfe  the  ease  with  some  of  you  ,•  but  let  me^" 
your  poor  lather,    u ho  love    your   souls  and  the  souls  of 
all  men  more  tiian  his   mortLJ  life,   I    say  kt  me  tell  you,,, 
that  although  his  first  appearance  is  very  small,  so  that  he  - 
is    scarce  !v  iliscernible  bv  those  v  ho    walk  in  darkness  ; 
yet  if  yoa  will   turn  to  his  hAtie  reprovirjg    spirit  which 
gives  you' to  undeistand  at  seme  silent  mon  tnts  of  your 
■lite,  that  you  must  alter  the  course  ol  your  life  and  depart 
from  the  evil  of  }  our  ^^  ays,  otherwise   }  ou   cannot  enter 
into  his  rest  and  pt^ce,  ar-d  that  this   alt>jration  must   be 
niacJe  before  you  die,  for  should  }cu  die  without  this  al- 
teraiibn  you  must  l;e    sensible  tb,at  it  will  not  fare  so  well 
ivith  von,  as  you  would  wish  it  to  be  5  yet  at  those  tim.es 
of  his  little  i'ppenrarce  yen  think  you  would  be  willing  to 
go  to  that  heaven  \  c>u  ha\e  htard  spoke  of.      Now  this  ex- 
ercise is  cccrieioned  by  the  visitation  of  this  little  messen- 
ger, whom  the  Lord   sends  to    seek  and  save    those  vho 
recr-ive  and  tirn  to  his  instruction  ;  but  this  is  so  small  at 
h'is  iirst  apptararce,  thnt  those  w  bo  live  in  sin  and  w^alk  in 
darkiiess  of: en  ovtrlook  it,  and  for  want  of  wisdom  they 
cai.n-.t  fii  d  Christ  to  be  their   Saviour  ;  and  the  reason  is 
because  ihey^cve  that  light  which  Christ  called  darkness, 
TTore  th.  r. 'h*^  iirde  reprover\light,  which  is    the  star  the 
vifc  m  r«    cf  he  t.asi  san  ,  and  \ttA  the  m  in  the  way  to  s*.  ek 
a&d  tiua  iiiiii  who  was  born  king  of  the  Jewsj* ;    and  al* 


(  ,15   ) 

though  he  was  born  at  Bettuehetn  in  JuJea,  yet  Herod 
and  his  friewds  knew  him  not.  The  wise  mt;n  seeing  his 
9f.ar  in  the  East,  were  moved  by  ;he  appejrancii,  they 
sought  and  found  him;  but  Herod  and  h»8  mnrdenng 
friends  covild  not,  and  it  appears  that  he  dit-d  without  the 
true  knowledge  of  ids  saving-  power.  So  I  fear  it  will  he 
the  case  of  many  who  pretend  like  Herod  to  want  to  wor- 
ship him,  yet  daily  walk  in  the  way  to  murder  him.  This 
light  was  sent  by  the  Father  to  be  born  in  idl  those  that 
wili  receive  his  birth  into  them,  for  he  Is  not  only  ^ing  of 
the  Jews,  but  he  is  the  king  of  all  the  ri>^hteous  that  ever' 
were  or  ever  will  be  in  this  world  and  tiiat  which  is  to 
come,  worlds  without  end.  Amen. 

Those  wha  delight  to  do  evil  in  that  internal  world 
where  men  only  see  by  the  eve  of  their  understanding  by 
the  light  of  darkness  ;  and  by  this  dark:  light,  all  that  are 
in  their  second  station  do  evil  by  the  c^aidance  or  instr^uc- 
tion  of  this  false  light,  and  this  evil  light  comes  from  the 
son  of  perdition,  who  rules  over  wickedness,  whereby 
m\en  see  and  learn  to  do  all  kind  of  evils  while  they  livt; 
without  repentance  towards  God,  and  without  faith  in  Je- 
sus Christ ;  for  all  mankind  who  have  any  delight  in  the 
fiiiits  of  sin,  are  under  the  power  of  this  darkness  and 
strangers  to  a  christian  life,  without  peace  or  recohriiia- 
tion  with  God,  and  strangers  to  the  day  of  salvativon.-— 
Therefore,  their  judjvQient  and  understanding  are  quite 
different  from  the  redeemed  children  pf  God,  #iio  have 
received  his  angel  of  light  and  grace,  and  hath  bro  ight-, 
them  outof  darkness  inco  the  light  of  his  salvation,  which 
is  ruled  by  the  lia-ht  of  the  son  of  God.  All  who  love  sin 
of  any  kind  in  word  or  deed  are  in  darkness,  and  without 
the  sweet  enjoyments  of  the  children  of  God,  or  a  true 
sense  of  a  christian  life  th:m  what  they  hear  ,with  their 
earthly  ears  ;  yet  by  this  they  learn  enough  to  be  hypo^ 
crites,  for  they  take  the  words  of  the  righteous  and^'the 
11  inn e  of  God  in  their  lips  to  deceive,  vet  kJ>eir  fruits  of 
darkness  deceive  them,  for  truth  and  righteousness  is  not 
in  them,  neither  will  it  ever  be,  whilst  they  love  iKxdive  in 
sin  ;  therefore  I  mav  sifely  sav  that  r.h^v  ^le. ^tcwnx^r-  ^o 
the  day  of  God's  salvation,  thev  are  like  the  babe  or  ch'^i 
born  of  a  woman  at  midnight,  (which  is  the  darknes*?  '^•^'!l- 
ed  ®ur  night)  and  dies  before  the  break  of  the  succeeding 


....     C    16    ) 

morning,  itdres  without  the  knowledge  of  daylight,  whic.l 
enii)^iu'.\is  our  mortal  tvfs,  and  withoutVsteing  the  sun 
in  the  firuiaruent  bt  heaven,  who  gives  us  light  and  heat 
to  do  our  neediul  business  whilst  on  earih.  So  all  must 
agree  that  caiidren  born  oi  women  and  dying  before 
the  next  morning  light,  (as  thousands  have)  have  had  no 
knowledge  oft.iie  light  we  call  day  ;  so  it  is  truly  the <:ase 
with  all  that  live  and  die  in  their  sins,  before  the}-  see  ii 
light  of  the  day  of  God's  salvation.  The  foregoing  des- 
cribed darkness  in->vhich  men  walk  in  their  second  star  ' 
tion,  is  the  dark  light  by  which  they  are  made  to  err  iw  - 
their  judgment,  and  make  them  often  justify  wicked 
deeds,  condemn  the  righteous,  &  plead  for  thejustilicatioii 
€ii  wicked  practices — condemn  the  just  fruits  of  God's 
love  aFid  tender  compassion,  is  all  from  that  light  which 
Christ  cautioTicd  his  disciples  in  these  words,  "take  heed 
therefore  that  the  light  which  is  in  thee  he  not  daikness,** 
for  by  this  dark  light  men  learn  to  do  evil,  and  by  their 
doing  evil  they  are  made  manifest  to  be  the  children  of  th 
Vy'orld,  and  strangers  to  the  kingdor?^  of  heaven.  All  th'^bc 
are  compared  to  the  lost  sheep,  not  only  of  the  house  of 
Israel,  but  those  of  allnations  under  the  heavei-^s  ;  of 
which  a  remnant  will  be  saved  -:  but  the  v/av  of  their  sali- 
vation is  brought  about  oiily  by  their  receiving  his  savuig 
angel,  whose  first  appearance  is  so  small  that  some  of 
those  who  Walk  in  the  foregoing  described  darkness,  do 
not  think  he  is  worth  their  notice. 

I  prav  you  to  remember  the  great  caution  to  be  aware, 
lest'vou  be  four.d  despising  the  day  of  small  things,  icr 
the  first  appearance  of  the  light  ofXhrist,  checking  and  re,- 
provingvou  for  your  secret  or  open  evils,  is  as  the  day 
of  small  things  ;  remember  also  the  saying  ofChrii: 
that  they  who  do  evil  are  to  arise  to  the  resurrecticm  of 
damnation  ;  that  is,  a  separation  from  God  and  the  en]oy- 
nient  of  the  good  things  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  which  >.; 
will  be  the  certain  lot  of  all  who  will  not  receive  and  fol- 
low this  angel,  sent  by  God  from  the  beginning,  and 
will  cor'^nue  to  the  end. 

IMv  dear. children,  I  do  hereby  tell  yom  and  all  other:^ 
by  what  means  you  may  know  him  when  he  cometh,  and 
wdien  he  cometh  it  is  on-purposeto  save  yoiv,  this  is  w'hat 
the  Father  sent  him  to  do,  for  it  is  not  his  will  that  any  " 


(     17     ) 

*aliouldbe  left  without  his  oftcrmg  them  the  means  of  sal- 
vation. Bat  they  who  will  not  receive  him  cannot  possi- 
bly be  saved,  as  there  is  no  other  visible  means  given  ua- 
^er  the  whale  heavens,  except  receiving  this  little  light 
which  enlighteneth  every  one  that  cometliinto  ihi&  world, 
Kow  this  little  light  is  like  the  .^j&j^oktbi  this  visible 
d.'^y  and  our  Egyptian  state,  or  our  second  state  or  station 
is  like  the  night  which  we  whilst  on  earth  call  so,  being  so 
dark  for  the  want  of  the  light  of  the  Sun,  Moon  or  Stars", 
that  we  cannot  see  to  walk  without  being  in  danger  of 
stum;)ling  and  falling  to  our  bodily  h'->i*t ;  this  you  ail 
know  by  experience  ;  Irat  our  merciful  God  sends  the  CLiy 
to  give  us  light,  to  eniii^hten  our  mortal  eyes. — Its  first 
appearance  is  very  small,  so  that  we  can  hardly  teU  whe* 
ther  it  Is  day  or  not  ;  yet  being  desirous  to  begin  our  in- 
tended WT>rk  or  travel  as  soon  as  light  appears,  we  go  out 
and  look,  we  think  it  is  not  yet  light  enough  to  do  our 
business  as  we  would  wish  it  to  be  done  ;  we  go  in  our 
house  again,  and  conclude  to  wait  a  little  longer,  that  it 
may  get  a  little  lighter  before  we  proceed  to  our  intended 
business  ;  ''bat  in  this  anxiety  we  cannot  take  any  rest,  v/e 
are  afraid  to  lie  down  and  oversleep  curstlvts,  and  by 
that  means  fall  snort  of  doing  olu*  intendeti  business,  so 
that  we  cannot  wait  long  before  we  go  and  look  again  j  at 
last  we  conclude  it  is  light,  by  seeing  th<i  moveable  anvi  im- 
movable things  of  this  world,  v*ih^ch  we  could  not  see 
before,  and  proceed  to  our  intended  business.  Ihus  my 
dear  children  and  otners,  you  all  know  by  experience  that 
we  cannot  do  much  work  to  real  perfection,  which  is  ne- 
cessary to  be  doue  to  support  oar  mortal  bodies  with  food 
an,d  raiments,  without  the  aid  or  assistance  of  the  light 
which  God  spreads  over  tlie  face  of  this  earth  every  twen" 
t}'^-foiir  hour-*.  Bat  who  oi  us  ali  consider  the  wonderfuL 
love  of  God  in  this  great  providance,  of  light  we  call  day, 
and.  wnlch  makes  its  appearance  to  those  who  are  anxioiis- 
ly  looking  and  waiting,  bx,-fore  they  can  seethe  brri;^ht 
sliiaing  sunto  rise  above  the  horison,  and  bid  darkness 
iiy  away  ;  then  every  one  having  eyes  and  a  sense  of  feel- 
ing, know  for  certain  it  is  day,,  and  althi>'  ten  thousand 
tinges  tea  thtjaaaad-*  were  to  say  it  was  not  dd^r  y^^tthey 
woiiid.  siiii  aoadnue  hx  die  Erm  belief  tiwc  it  was-  day  j  tor 

B-  2* 


C     18      ) 

they  would  5ee  and  feel  th;-  warming  effects  of  his  pow- 
er, which  God  hath  given  him  to  distribute  fur  the  com- 
liiitand  prefiervation  of  his    creatures  ;  -for  without  the 
warming   beams  of  this   great  iuminary  nothing  on  earth 
'  ould  live  ;  yea,  the  earth  would  be   immediately  barren 
and  stripped  of  ali  her  precious   fruits — nothing  on  earth 
can  be  brought  to    perfection  without  bis  warming  influ- 
ence :  yet  God  allows  it  to  rise  and  shine  on  the  evil  thuigs 
of  this  earch,  both  of  men  and   beasts,  as  well  as  on    the 
good.      But  remember  what  1  said  of  the  wonderful  love 
of  (i(jd  in  this   one  great  providence    for  our   comfort  in 
this  life,  for  was  he  to  take  this  o!ie  blessing  away,    how 
quickiy   should  we  all  perish.    Rtrmember  also,    that    v*  e 
should  thank  him,  not  only  for  this  blessing,  but   for  all 
'OLher  gins  he  hath  s-o  freely  bestowed  on  us  for  our  com- 
forts in  this  life.   Let  us  be  humble,  and  come  before  him 
under  a  sense  of  his  loving  kindness  and  providence  mail 
the  lawfvd  enjoyments  of  this  life  ;   I  sa\ ,  let  us  all  come 
'-fccfore  him.  with  true   thanksgiving  a,nd   praise,   not  only 
with  our  lips  and    mouths  as  the   wicked  do,  biit  as  being 
sen.-vible  of  his  loving  kindness  towards  us — let  us  all  thaC 
have  i^een  partakers  of  his  blessing  give  hiin  all  the  thanks 
and  praise  that  can  be  given  him  by  his  angtls  in  heaven, 
and  his  saints  on   earih  ;  vea,  ten    thousand    times  more 
then  all  can  give,  for  his  gooduess  is  be}ond  our    expres- 
sion,  and  h\'  mercy  !~j' yond  our  uiteianc  • 

But  by  thistirne,  my  dear  children,  you  may  want  to 
know  bv  what  means  vou  will  or  can  know  when  the  hea- 
venly angel  appears,  in  order  to  lead  you  out  of  Kgypt, 
or  vour  second  station,  to  be  your  guide  irLto  the  promis- 
ed land,  the  fourth  st  uion,  or  into  the  kingdorm  of  God, 
%vhere  rest  and  peace  is  amongst  the  inhabitants  thereol.— 
Well,  you  may  observe  that  I  h.tve  given  the  plainest 
comparisons  that  cari  be  given — that  the  light  which 
is  called  div,  and  which  spreads  itself  over  the  face  of 
the  earth  once  in  tventy-fo'jr  hours,  cmnes  from  the  Sun  ; 
"Hhich  our  gr  icioLis  and  merciful  God  has  placed  in  the 
firmament  of  heaven,  to  give;  light  and  wannth  to  all 
things  moveiiblc  and  immovable  ;  I  s-ay  the  light  c/f  all 
other  things  whatsoever  is  derived  from  it  ;  for  even  the 
light  which  the  moon  and  stars  appear  to  give.^  comes 
from  the  sun,  and  if  It  was  uUwen  away  thsjir  iigtiS-'woulc 


(     19     ) 

fait,  and  darkness    would  c  >ver    the  f;ice  of  the  em'th  ^ 

aud  as  no  light  can  be  called  day,  except  what  conies  trbin 
the  Sun,  wliicli  Gq4  has  pliced  in  the  firmament  of  hea- 
ven. So  is  it  with  respect  of  the  internal  light  which  en« 
liglkteneth  every  one  coming  into  the  world,  ana  every 
sparksoftrae  light  enlightening  the  eye  of  our  understand- 
ing, comes  from  the  lovely  Son  of  God  ;  for  none  can 
give  us  any  particle  of  the  saving  light  of  salvation  by 
their  own  wisdom,  for  if  any  an^el  or  man  have  any  of 
this  saving  light,  they  must  receive  it  from  the  Son  of 
God,  as  the  moon  and  stars  receive  their  light  from  the 
Su'i,  before  they  can  cause  it  to  shr->^.  on  the  chil^dre.n  of 
men,  because  they  are  only  the  instruments  appointed  by 
God  to  spread  this  light  on   earth  for  the  benefit   of  meuo 

I  now  will  request  and  advise  you  to  enter  into  a  Sf)*- 
lemn  silence,  &  wait  before  the  Lord  in  sincerity,  breath- 
ing prayers  ;  1  do  not  say  in  words  of  the  morud  tongue, 
but  in  the  language  of  the  spirit,  and  with  unfeigned  de<5; 
sire,  that  he  would  please  to  give  you  a  true  understand- 
ing of  his  divine  Son,  that  by  the  light  thereof  you  might 
see  the  coming  of  the  angel,  which  he  hath  appointed  to 
be  the  only  guide  to  lead  his  children  out  of  the  house  of 
bondage,  even  the  bondage  of  sin  wiiich  keeps  many  the 
servants  of  iniquity  ;  and  svhilst  in  this  state  are  without 
the  love  and  peace  of  God,  aa4  strangers  to  the  kingdo^n 
of  heaven  ;  in  this  captivated  state  should  any  die,  they 
could  never  enter  into  the  kiagdomof  G-od.  But  us  the 
Lord  heard  thesighirfgsand  groanings  of  the  children  of 
Israel,  and  sent  Moses  to  their  help  and  deliverance,  so 
he  hith-heard  our  rsighings,  groaaings  and  mournings  un- 
der our  heavy  burtl>en  of  sin,  and  hath  sent  his  angel  with 
the  offer  of  salvation  to  all  that  are  or  have  been,  and  he 
will  send  him  to  all  that  will  he reatter  i:)e  born,  and  will 
fall  under  the  cajHivity  of  sin.  But  when  the  heavenly 
messenger  comes;,  he  appears  so  small  vrxt  many  will  not 
know  hi  n.  It  is  now  with  manl»ind  as  it  was  in  d^ys  of 
yore,  for  in  those  past  days  the  people  saw  his  bvxly,  but 
they  knew  him  not;-  and  it  is  said  that  he  was  in  the 
world,  and  that  the  world  was-  made  by  himv  ypt  tiie 
world  knew  hi nv  not.. 

Pcrhap^^  iivy  dear  children,  ya^i-nav  yet  .Te  at  a  loss; 
sifser  all  uighq-  piam  co-iw^m\5G-a%  aad  oi^aj  woatkriiiiv?  he 


C     20     ) 

Ca>x  be  in  the  world  and  the  vvond  not  know  him.     But 
this  means  his  spirit  and  not  that  body  which  was  crucifi- 
ed ;  his  spirit  was  in  the  world  from    the  beginning  and 
will  be  to  the  end — it  was  in'  the  world,  long  before  the 
Virgin  Mary    brought    forth  that  child  called  Jesus — it 
was  his  spirit  which  came  down  from  heaven,  that  saved 
and  kept  that  man  we  call  Jesus  Christ  our   Lord,    from 
all  sin  :   and  the  same    spirit  gave  Jesus  Chnst  power  to 
do  his  father's  will,     by   doing  which    he  was  kept  pure 
from  all  transgressioiis,  tor  this  cause  his  father  gave  him 
honor  above  ail  men,    a  name  abov  e  all  others   in  heaven 
or  earth,    for  he  is  *h>.  Saviour,,  and  there  are  none  beside 
him,  for  if  any  of  us  are  saved  from  our  sins,  it  wili  be  by 
the  power  which  his  father  has  given  him-  In  order  that  you 
may  come  at  once  to  the  true  knowledge  of  Christ,  I  will 
tell  you  as  the  Lord  hath  shewn  me  :  the  world  or  Egyp- 
tian state  is  this  ;  ail  who  live  in  a   state  of  sin   and  have 
not  been  brought  to  such  repentance,  that  they  need  not 
repent  again  ;  true  repentance  gives     people    a    concern 
to  know  how  they  shall,    or  by  what    means  they  can  be 
forgiven   and  saved  for  their  past  sins,  and  how  to  be  kept 
from  it  the    remainder  of   their  days.     I5ut    all  who   are 
strriHgcrs  to  .this  humble  concern  for  their  souls'  salvation, 
liv^,   in  sin,  love  to  do  evil,  or. take  pleasure   in  their  sins 
or  those  of  any  other  persons,  are  ail  of  the  world— not  of 
Christ — they    are  spiritual   Egyptians    or  heathens — >uot 
Ciiristians,  but  members  of  the  world— -but  not  members 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.      1  hey  form  the  sinful  world^ 
yei  '*  God  so  leved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his   only    be- 
gotten Son,  that  whosoever   believeth  in  him,  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everhisting   life."     St.  John  chapi.  iii^. 
16th  ver.     It  is  everlasting   life  to  knov/  him,  •■'  ior  God 
sent  not  his  Son  into  the  world  to  conds:mn  the  world  ^ 
but  thatthe  v/orid  thro'  him  mignt  be  saved,"  ver.  17",  that 
is,,  by  believing  in    him  ;  but  all  who   will  n«>t  believe  in* 
him- cannot  be  saved,   unless  they  repent,  believe  and  re- 
eeive  him,  orjelse  be  conJen:ined  ;  for  the   light  is  come 
into  the  world,  yea,  the  lig;nt which  shines  from  the  Sori 
of  God,  as  the  dawning  of  the  day  makes  its  first  appear- 
ance in  the  ii.a3t  early  in  the  morning,  before  the  Son  can 
fee  ^iszliiCa.     riie  reasoathat  tko*^^-  wh/>-  ar^  rae'.rih'ers- of. 


(      21      ) 

before  them,  even  unto  th'-n;-  but  they  love  darkness 
more  thin  li^ht,  their  deeds  are  evil  and  take  deligiit  in 
them,  so  that  when  the  light  conies  from  the  Son  of  Cjc^ 
to  save  them,  many  act  like  one  who  is  recorded  in  script,^ 
ture,  and  had  the  oBer  of  eternal  life  on  condition  he 
would  part  with  all  he  had,  and  distrib  ite  it  to  the  po3r, 
and  to  go  and  follow  Christ.  Kut  unfortunate  was  that 
rnan,  for  he  loved  the  things  he  had  in  pos*3ession  more 
than  the  Lord  ;  therefore  instead  of  belie\  ing  Christ,  ta- 
king up  his  cross  and  following  him  toth«  promised  land 
or  life,  he  left  Christ  and  went  away  sorrovfui  ;  this  is 
the  case,  his  been  andrwill  be  with  thousands  of  my  fel- 
lowcre.itures,  whoareiapossessioaofthe  fruitsofthe  flesh, 
yet  many  of  them  pretend  they  want  to  know  what  they 
must  do  to  attain  this  life  ;  but  when  Christ,  the  light^ 
tells  them,  instead  of  following  his  advice,  they  often  go 
away  without  taking  up  their  cross  and  refu«ie  to  follow 
•iim  ;  for  they  are'  so  much  delighted  with  their  possesjii 
sions,  that  they  will  not  leave  them,  although  the  light 
makes  itself  manifest  to  their  understanding,  that  they 
must  part  with  all  the  fruitsofthe  flesh,  otherwise  they 
cannot  receive  eternal  life. 

I  wiil  now  tell  you  when  and  how  this  angel  makes  his 
first  appearance,  and  endeavour  to  mike  it  so  plain  that  all 
must  know  the  coming  of  the  greatest  friend  that  ever  was 
or  ever  will  be  ;  he  is  a  spirit  that  cannot  be  seen  by  mor- 
tal eves,  but  appears  to  our  understanding,  drawing  our 
minds  into  a  solemn  s'rlence,  and  plainly  telling  us  that  we 
are  sinners,  that  we  must  do  better  ;  he  then  shows  us  a 
way  of  doingso,  which  we  clearly  see  ;  we  then  are  bro't 
by  the  powerful  operation  of  his  light,  to  think  it  would 
be  better  for  us  to  do  as  he  points  out  ;  yet -although  we 
are  thus  exercised,  manv  of  us  whilst  in  our  sins  do  not 
tnow  that  it  is  him,  whom  the  Father  sent  to  save  us,  alid 
being  strangers  to  the  Son  of  God  we  are  like  the  rest  of 
the  world,  although  he  came  into  our  minds  and  persuaded 
us  to  leave  our  sinful  deeds  and  go  along  v/ith  him,  yet 
we  are  so  ignorant  that  we  knov/  him  not.  But  such  as 
receive  him  into  them  he  gives  power,  and  they  become 
the  children  of  God,  be  they  male  or  fern  ile,  or  of  what 
eolour  or  nation  whatsoever.  This  is  the  beginning  of  his 
frrit  appearance,  and  all  must  remember  it  whether  they 


(     22      ) 

receive  bim  or  not  ;  for  their  own  consrience  will  be  wit-*^ 
ness  against  thesn  that  the    Lord  did  nppe.ir,   and  oiFered 
them  nt  sundry  times  his  loving  help — that   he  did  show 
tnem  the  way  by  vv  hich  they  riiight  have  gone  to  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  and  be  redeemed  from  the  slavish  yoke  of- 
sin,  nnd  fiom  the  shameful  bondage  of  ip.iqiiily.       But  as'' 
they    were   loaKn  to   part  with    their   yjleusing    lusts,  and 
would  not  forsake  their  sinful  ways  to  follow  his  convin- 
cing light,  which  did  at  sundr}'  times  clearly  convince  thena 
•f  their  state  and   :ondition,    and  to  lead  a  better  life  or'^ 
they  would  not  be  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven,       I  say, 
every   ont's  consciencf  Mill  bear  witness   to  the   truth  at 
the  day  of  judgment,    when    all  nations  will    meet  to  be 
judged,    be    they   of  what  colour  soever,  learned  or  un- 
learned ;  for  all  those  who  will  not  take  up  their  cross  and 
follow  his  persuading  light,  which  appears  to  the  unlearn- 
ed in  letters  as  well  a?  to  those  who  can  read  the    Bible, 
for  they  shall  all  be  left  vntbout  excuse.     Yea,  I  say  thar: 
all  w^ho  refuse  to  take  up  their  cross  and  follow  him,  thei 
condemnation  will  be  of  themselves  ;     for  none      wdll  be 
able  to  say  unto  God,  that  he  never  shewed  them  the  way 
that  would  have  led  them  to  his  kingdom,    but  all  must 
confess  that  his  angel  of  light  often  did  so,  but  they  v/ould 
Bot  go. 

O  !  you  that  are  yet  doing  evil  of  many  kinds,  has  not 
the  Lord  shewed  you  the  way  and  necessity  of  stoping, 
by  convincing  you  that  if  you  did  not  leave  off  and  repent 
before  you  die,  you  would  go  to  a  bad  place,  or  in  other 
words  into  hell,  where  you  will  forever  be  separated  from 
God's  love  and  peace  ?  The  thoughts  of  neglecting  his 
offered  salvation  will  be  one  mean  of  distress,  such  as  vve 
see  in  natural  things,  as  if  a  man  loses  something:  valuable 
by  his  own  neglect,  th;^n  observe  how  it  frets  his  mind.-— 
How  much  more  will  this  be  feltby  those  who  neglect  the 
offered  salvation  of  the  Lord.  Awake!  awake  !  aiifl  let 
me  tell  you  what  you  will  find  to  t)e  true,  whi:*ther  vo.i  be- 
lieve or  not,  that  the  Lord  did  send  his  angel  ih  \t  voa 
inight  see  the  way  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  but  those 
that  have'not  yet  seen,  the  Lord  will  in  hi^  own  timf*  shovv 
them.  I  vvould  rather  believe  vou  have  all  seen,  an  1  think 
it  is  hiqch  time  for  you  to  be  travelling  as  fast  as  nossjhle 
mm  of  Eg}^pt,  aad  go  no  other  way  but  that  vmich  ihc  Lord 


(     25     ) 

sliowsyou.  TVc  Isratiites  had  lo  carry  rJlthevrsubstanct 
?.i.d  liccks  ^^^\h  ihen.  cut  of  Egypt,  bfel  \gu  must  kave  all 
yau  have  ^^oi  in  tgvpt  into  >4>}  ^t ;  k  r  nothing  that  is  the 
produce,  grouih  or'iruits  otthialand  or  of  f.ny  othercoun- 
trv  shall  tver  be  brcuight  hito  tht  promised  land,  ior  the 
fruits  ihertof  are  hch ,  and  all  other  Iruits  are  unholy  ; 
thertioie  none  can  be  adn  itted  into  this  holy  land  unless 
(hey  leave  all  other  Iruits  behind  thtm  ;  this  is  the  cross, 
lo  torsake  and  iiave  all  the  delights  of  the  fruits  ol  the 
flesh,  \vl]ether  they  consist  of  words  or  deeds,  and  it  must 
be  done  before  \\  e  can  enter  into  this  holy  land.  1  do  rot 
mean  the  Iruit  vi  trees  or  of  cur  coi  r  fields,  but  the  fruits 
of  that  corrin.tyble  tiee  that  Satan  hatli  planted  in  the 
hearts  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Ad»m,  which  brings 
sd  much  sin  ard  transgression  ;  and  all  who  will  not  lor- 
s^ke  the  fiuirs  of  the  tiesh  cannot  be  Christ's  disciples.—- 
The  fruits  oi  ire  fiesh  are  fully  set  forth  and  named  m  the 
scriptures,  and  vou  nia\  find  them  in  sundry  plates  in  that 
part  called  the  IMeW-Tcstament ;  for  Christ  himselt  de- 
clared what  would- defile  a  man,  and  that  nothing  defiled 
can  enter  the  holy  land.  Some  say  they  have  not  beem 
guilty  of  ail  the  bad  deeds  mentioned  in  scripture,  nor 
would  they  be  as  bad  ;is  some  are  for  a  great  deal,  lor 
such  a  one'is  guilty  of  almost  every  thing  that  is  bad. — 
This  may  be  true,  but  I  tell  you  that  the  scrip: ures  say, 
that  *' a  little  leven  leveneth  the  whole  lump,  and  that 
they  who  are  guilty  of  breaking  one  of  the  commandments, 
are  guihy  of  breaking  tne  whole."  Therelorc  do  not'  de- 
ceive yourselves,  for  nothing  unclean  can  enter  the  king- 
dom ot  Ciod. 

Here  is  the  rtecessary  question  you  ought  to  put  to  your 
souls  :  O  !  my  soul  art  thou  clean  or  unclean  ?  and  il  you 
will  put  this  close,  I  think  your  souls  will  answer  either 
clean  or  uijclr-an  ;  if  the  answer  should  be  unclean,  may 
1  tell  }  ou  that  th«  angtl  of  God  is  sent  to  you  for.this  pur- 
pose, to  call"  you  out  of  your  uncleanness,  whether  great  or 
sniail,  far  ail  the  fvuiis  of  the  flesh  are  unclean  ;  and  they 
.who  will  not  take  up  ihf ir  cross^  which  tfttnieth  those 
frmts,  and  foUow  Ci>risl,  cannot  be  his  disciples.  Then 
ex-amine  yourselves  before  it  is  tjoo  late,  that  you  may 
know  \tihethei  vr;u  are  sowing  the  seeds  oi  the  lie  .sh> 
whereby  you  will  reap  corrupiion,  *^i^^  s*^P^5^^^*^  yourselvta 


(     24      ) 

from  the  ki;;)g(lom  of  hcavtn  ;  or  v.  bother  you  rre  sowing 
to  the  spirit  ot  the  Lord,  by  vthich  you  mi.y  rtap  iile 
everlasting. 

As  man  is  a  forgetful  creature,  and  the   names  of  the- 
diilcrent   sorts  ot  sin,    caiied  the  fruits  x)i  the  rlesh,    arei- 
scattered' about  in  diilerent  parts  of  the  scriptures,    1  will^ 
here  mention  some,  as  related  in  the  7th  chapt.  oiSt  Mark, 
21st  ver.  Sic.^*"' Evil  Thoughts,    adulteries,   fornications, 
murders,  thefts,  covetousntss,  wickedness,   deceit,   kisci- 
viousness,  an  evil  eye,  blaspheipy^  pride,  foojislffifess  &c. 
-defiles  a   man."  And   Paul  Sit\  s   in    his  epistle  to  the:~ 

Gaiatians,  5ih  chapt.  i9ih  ver*  Jkc,  that  the  iruits  of  tlie 
flesh  are,  *■'■  Adultery,  fornication,  uncleanness,  lascivious- 
ness,  idolatry,  witchcraft,  hatred,  variance,  emulations, 
v/raih,  strife,  seditions,  heresies,  envyings,  murders, 
drunlvenness,  reveiiin^^s,  and  such  like  fruits,  that  thej 
who  do  such  things  shall  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.'' 
Evil  thoughts  is  the  first  source  from  whence  the  above 
xiamed  evils  come,  and  man)-  others,  such  as  lieing,  false 
swearing  cheating  &  unjust  dealings  of  any  kind,  cursing 
swearing  and  idle  evil  speaking,  which  often  provoke 
otiiers  to  do  the  same,  breaking  promises  and  covenants, 
with  unmercifulness  to  both  men  and  beasts,  and  taking* 
pride  of  their  deeds  in  figiiting  and  beating  their  fellow 
creatures,  often  staining  their  garments  with  their  bltjod; 
pinching,  screwing  and  starving  those  they  have  under 
their  power,  }ea,  sometimes  pinching  them.selves  witU 
hunger  rather  ttien  spe^d  a  few  pence,  becatvse  the  price 
of  what  ihey  want  to  eat  ordiink,  is  a  little  higher  than 
what  thev  want  ta  give,  but  ii  they  can  by  iheir  crafty  lies 
get  it  tinder  value,  or  given  to  them  they  will  not  starve; 
they  covet  the  siibstaace  of  other  men's  labour,  yet  are 
unwilling  to  make  satisfaction  fijr  the  same — breakhig 
their  covenanis  made  before  God  at  their  marriage,  turn- 
ing their  love,  (if  ever  they  had  any  for  their  wives)  to 
other  w^omen,  becoming  harsh  to  them  and  tlieir  families  ; 
maiiv  Nvomen  a»so  oo  the  same  and  defile  their  marriage 
beds  vvitn  other  men,  have  no  r^gard^to  the  words  of  their 
mouths,  bein^  as  tke  old  proverb  says,  never  satisfied 
withtaeir  iawffcithusi}an  ;  ,  nelih  -  fud  nor  fasting,  al  vays 
suivmg  for  inast^^ry,  pleading  before  other  people^, ris^f 
iuty  were  kind  and; loving  lo  their  husbands,  boi  as  soon 


?  gone  arc  full  of  contention,  opposing  tli^R^  in  their  con- 
cerns with  obstinate  resistance,  without  considering  what 
the  consequences  may  be,  nor  recollecting  that  God  has 
^.iven  authority  to  the  man  as  head  of  his  wife  and  family, 
\^herein  he  can  and  ought  to  mal-e  just  and  merciful  laws, 
and  that  it  is  dangerous  to  resist  his  power  and  authority, 
for  they  who  resist  it  are  in  danger  of  coming  vmder  that 
'tDrrector  mentioned  by  the  apostle  Paul,  in  the  loth 
chapt.  and  2d  ver.  of  his  <?pistle  to  the  Romans  in  these 
words  :  "  Whosoever  therefore  resisteth  the  power,  re- 
sisteth  the  ordinance  of  God  :  and  they  that  resist,  shall 
receive  to  themselves  damnation.*.'  This  is  very  true, 
and  all  will  find  it  so  both  men  a.nd  women  :  for  there  are 
varioLis  branches  of  power  given  by  God,  hrst  the  king's 
power,  which  regularly  branch  out  until  it  reaches  every 
husbands,  who  have  authority  over  all  under  their  care  ^ 
novr  the  wife  is  under  the  care  and  authority  of  the  hus- 
band, even  by  her  covenantal  vows  and  promises  made  of 
her  free  will  on  the  clay  of  her  marriage  ;  but  many  wo - 
liiendo  not  regard  this,  they  will  contend  for  the  mastery, 
ivliich  will  be  sooner  or  later  to  their  confusion,  and  unles*^ 
they  repent  and  forsake  such  shameful  ways,  they  will  fall 
short  of  entrance  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  O  my  dear, 
daughters  !  hear  me,  for  these  are  fruits  of  the  flesh, 
brought  forth  in  Egypt,  and  not  fit  for  the  promised  land  ; 
for  thf  y  who  bring  such  fruits  are  in  their  second  station 
of  life,  and  in  danger  every  moment  of  their  life  of  being 
rejected,  because  they  bring  no  other  fruit?;  but  thorns  and 
briers,  which  often  pierce  them  and  their  husbands  to  the 
heart.  There  are  many  more  which  1  have  not  mention- 
ed, but  I  vi^ill  leave  you,  my  dear  children,  and  others,  to 
pray  to  the  Lord  that  v.hen  he  appears,  it  would  please 
him  oT  his  own  love  and  m.ercy,  to  make  known  to  your 
understandings  all  things  that  are  uiicleai^, 

CHAPTER  II, 

Of  War, 

HERE  I  wil!r«a"^e  mention  of  one  tTying,  wft;ch  i?,  foi 
l4)rwiDg  th«  <lestroviDg  angel  nio  war  &  bloodshed,  whj.c»i 

C 


(  ^^  y 

is  of  the  lust  of  the  Sesb,  the  pride  and  ambition  of  sinful 
liic,  and  void  of  the  real  love  cf  God  ;  for  no  n'.ari  whose 
spirit  is  redeemed  and  bro't  out    of  his  second  station  of 
sin  and   transgression    into  the   promised  land,  will  ever 
shed  the  blood  of  his  fellow  creatures  as  long  as  he  is  an 
inhabitiint  thereof  ;  for  then   he  is    under    the  pr©tection 
and.  guidance  of  .grace,  which  lends  to  love  and  peace.  But 
there  are  thousands  of  thousands  who  claim  the  name  of 
being  followers  of  that  grace  of  God,  which  brings  salva- 
tion to  all  who  receive  and  follow  its  instructions,    will  in 
a  futui-e  day  find  the  great  mistake  they  are  under,  either 
wilfully  or  ignorantly  ;  for  it  is  vain  to   claim   that  name 
unless  they  wiil  separate  and  be  separated  from  all  destroy- 
ing angels,  and  onl}'  cleave  to  him    who  did  not  come  to 
destroy  men's  lives  but  to  save  them,  for  rather  than  des- 
troy or  have   the  souls  of  mankind    destroyed,  he  left  all 
the  glory  he  had  in  his  father's  kingdom,  and  came  into 
this  sinful  -svorld  to  save   them.     There  was  no  other  ap- 
pointed by  the  Father  to   save  or  l^e  a  Saviour,    but  this 
lovely  grace,  or  angel,  or  lamb  of  God,  which  is,  has  been, 
and  will  be  slain,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  to  the 
end  G^'  man's    coming  out  ot    Egypt  ;    but  when    all  his 
saints  and  seed  are  redeemed  and  brought  out  of  Egypt, 
he  will  sliow  his  power  and  come  in  great  glory  ;  then  all 
the    bloodshedders    who   pretended   to  be  his   followers, 
wjll  fmd  their  vvilful  mistake,  (if  I  may  be  allowed  the  ex- 
pression of  mistake.)     This  angel  will  be  witness  against 
tb'^m,  and  they  will    be  o'^liged  to  confess   that   the  dear 
Sa'.-ir)ur  often  did  trv  ro  persuade  them  to  forsake  the  des- 
troying angel,  to  turn  from  all  evil   and  follow  that  grace 
which  would  lead  them  to  a  sober  anl  righteous  life,  that 
V  uld  have  made    them   acceptable  heirs  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.      They  will  then  knov/   the  difference  between 
serving  or  not  servin^j  God,  and  between  pure  and  unde- 
f-.ed  religion    and  that   v^-hich  is   feigned  ;  for  those  \yho 
folloVthe   destroyer    mnke  great  ■  profession    in  a  formal 
.worship,  by  pray  in  cr,  .singing,  baptizinir  and  iv.nng  baptiz- 
ed in  water,  but  not  in  nor    with  the   holy   ghost  ;  going 
ofcen  to  whit  is'  called  ?.;ur:in.nt    yet  tmu.  in    strange  rs 
t'»  the  bod  v"and  blood  of  (hrlst.  which  they  prrtend,^o  eat 
a  '^  drink,  but  thev  d'>  not  ;  for  did  they  eat    and   drir-k 
thereof  they  wouid  be  immediately  changed  and  redeem- 


(     27     ) 

ed  from  the  house  of  b.md  i-^e,  and  would  be  brought  into 
the  promised  hmd,  where  Christ  rules  in  peace  and  h)ve  ; 
for  whoever  comes  there  comes  to  the  house  of  God,  buiit 
by  his  hoh'  hands,  whereon  it  hath  pleased  him  to  put  hif? 
holv  name,  that  it  might  be  c-nlled  the  new  Jerusalem^ 
and  is  very  different  from  the  old  one  built  by  the  hands  or 
-men,  of  the  stones  of  this  earth,  in  the  day  of  the  prosp2- 
r.ty  of  the  children  of  Israe^  and  was  to  be^throw.i  down  & 
dore  away  ;  even  that  great  house  called  Solomon's  tem- 
ple, was  only  a  figure  of  what  was  to  come  and  be  done  by 
the  Lord ;  who  saidof  the  old  temple  built  by  Solomo  ■,  that. 
it  was  to  have  been  called  a  house  of  prayer,  but  they  had 
made  it  a  den  cf  thieves.  It  therefore  pleased  God  to 
take  his  I'.oly  name  av/a~y  from  that  earthly  temple,  and 
place  it  in  the  house  built  by  his  holy  hands  ,•  tb.e  all  liv- 
ing stone  Jesus  Christ  himself,  being  the  chief  corner 
thereof,  and  onw^hichthe  foundation  and  holy  building 
are  firmly  framed.  This  is  the  house  which  the  prophets 
Ezekiel  and  Micah  saw  in  their  visions,  and  was  to  be 
built  in  the  latter  days  ;  it  was  to  be  established  on  the^top 
of  the  mountains,  and  be  exalted  above  the  hills  ;  that  is 
to  sav,  above  every  other  kind  of  religion  or  worship  on 
earth.  Accordingly,  in  these  days  there  are  many  forms 
©f  pretended  religion,  some  very  highly  sat  up  and 
esteemed,  like  the  mountains,  others  less,  and  like  tli(^ 
bills.  But  the  true  and  spiritual  worship  stands  accept^ 
able  to  God,  and  will  be  exalted  above  them  a\l  4  and  all 
people  who  love  God  will  flock  unto  it,  for  a  remnant  of 
all  nations  will  say  to  each  other,  come,  let  us  go  up  to 
the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  and  to  the  house  of  the  God  of 
J\cob. — Here  they  will  be  taught  the  ways  of  the  Lord, 
and  to  walk  in  his  paths,  for  the  hiw  is  known  here,  and 
his  wo''d  is  to  go  forth  from  this  holy  place-^r-this  is 
T:he  spot  where  he  will  judge  manv  people,  and  rebuke 
strong  nations  ;  before  which  he  will  cause  thepi  to  bent 
their  swords  into  plough  shears,  and  their  spears  inio 
pl"uning  hooks,  so  that  they  may  not  learn  war  anv  more, 
■^his  is  the  place  where  every  one  set  under  his  vine  and 
fig  tree,  and  there  is  none  to  mak^  them  afraid — here  are 
no  wicked  men,  nor  anv  that  do  evil — here  the  name'of 
the  Lord  is  placed,  and  all  who  come  have  to  call  on  it,  by 
which  they  are  saved  ;  but  in   calling   on  his  holy  name 


(      23      ) 

tViey  must  depart  from  ail  evil,  otherwise  they  cannot  en-* 
ter,  for  as  this  place  is  holy  nothing  unholy  can  come  inro 
it.      It  Is  the  delight  of  the   inhabitants  of  this  holy  place, 
to  call  on  the  narae  of  the  Lord — there  is  no  bloodv  wars 
amongst  thetn  ;   here  they  are   restored  to  the   image  of 
0^>d  m   which  man   was   first  created  and  oioathed    \<rithi 
whilst  they  v/ere  in  the  garden  before  they  ate  the  forbid- 
den fruit.  '  •'-* 
I  say   there   would  h-^v^  been  no  war  nor  bloodshed  if 
man  had  remained  in  obedience  to  God's  comm-inds,  but 
by  t'le  disobedience  ofeatin:^  of  the  foroid  len  fruit,  thev 
lost   the    imagie,ofGod    ard    became    naked    in     spirit, 
of  which  they-  were  ashamed  ;     and  whMi  they  heard  the 
voice  of  God  'in  the  garden  they  hid  themselves',  but  to  no 
purpose  J  for  the  Lord  by  his    pnwer    brought  them  tQ 
give  an  account  of  themselves,  after  which  to  punish  them 
for  their  transgression,  the  Lord  cast  them  out  of  the  gar- 
den of  Eden,   which  was  to-  tliem  as  a  paradise,  and  would 
have  been  as  long  as  they  would  have  lived  in  true  obedi- 
ence ;  but  it  is  no  more,    and  cannot  be  restored  to  men 
unless   they  come  into  the  fourth  station,  which  no  man 
can  attain  by  means  of  their  own  ;  for  unless  they  receive 
the  Lord  from  heaven,  believe  and  follow  him  out  of  the 
second  station  through  the  third  into  the  fourth   station^ 
they  cannot  be  his  disciples  ;  &  they  who  are  not  Christ's 
will  not  have  the  image  of  God  restored  ta  them,  neithei* 
will  they  V)c  tit  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for  none  shall 
enter  therein  but  those  who  by  true  repentance  have  been 
prepared  to,  receive  the  Lord  andfoUow  him  to  the  fourth 
station. 

Now  any  one.  that  has  eyes  may  see  there  was  no  w?fr 
Bor  bloodshed  in  man's  first  station,  neither  is  there  any 
in  the  fourth  ;  for  all  who  attain  thereto,,  are  children  of 
God  by  regeneration  and  being  born  again,  by  which  they 
are  restored  ti3  the  image  of  God,  which  is  so  lovely  that 
all  who  have  their  souls  covered^vith  it  can  in  truth  say 
that  God  is  their  father.  But  all  who  call  God  their  father 
&liave  not  his  holy  image  are  liars,  &  unless  they  repent 
before  it  be  too  late,  shall  share  the  same  fate  with  the 
liars  who  are  to  be  cast  into  the  lake  which  burns  with  fire 
and  brimstone,  as  mentioned  in  John's  revelation.  On  th^ 
contrary  all  who  have  the.  image  oi  God  restored,  to  tliem^  , 


: 


f   ^^    ) 

ean  call  hiiif  their  father  ;  and  he  himself  will  own  tUem 
to  be  his  returning  sons  and  daughters  who  had  been  dead, 
but  now  alive  by  receiving  and  believing  in  Christ,  who 
huth  raised  them  from  thedead  and  brought  them  home, 
as  the  lost  sheep  who  have  reUu'ned  to  tiie  sheplKrd-and 
bishop  oi  their  souls- 

Ail  who  are  in  the  habit  of  shedding  blood  or  justifying 
it  under  this  glorious   gospel  day,  either  otfensive  or  de- 
fensive are    yet  in  the  second  statiou  where  war  took  its 
origin  ;  for  there  was  no   war  amoig  the  children  ol'  men 
as  long  as  ttiey  v/ere  cloathed  wilii  the  image  of  God^  but: 
by  eating  of  the  forbidden   frait  tiiey  lost    it  and  became 
naked,    .  hich  caused  them  to  be  removect  from  that  inno- 
cent and    harmless  lite  which  God  placed  them  in  ;    and 
being  fi;und  gudty  by  their  ov/n  confession,  for  a  reward^ 
of    their     transgression    the    Lor-il  sent  them- out  of  the 
happy  garden,  into  tne  wide  fields  of  the  v/orld  to  till  the 
ground,   which  should  bnng  thorns  and  thistles,  and  that 
they  shoald  in  sorrow  eat  of  it  all  their  daysv      After  this- 
man.  began  to  learn  evil,  and  amengst  the  many  evil«  he 
learned  was  that  calied  war  and   bloodsheds     And  where 
did  it  first  begin  ?   Why,  it  began  and  took  its  origin  from. 
that  wicked  man  Cain,  to  whom  the  Lord-  said  before  his- 
wicked    act   ly  which  he     killed    his>  righteous    hrotb.er 
Abel,.  "•  if  thou    dost  well  shult  thou  not   be   accepted  r'^ 
that  is  to  sav,  if  he  would  refu&e  to  do  evil  and  learn  to- 
do  well,  he  should  be  accepted  as  well  as  his  brother  Abel ;; 
but  Cain    turned  himself  frora  the  covmcil  of  the  Lord^. 
and  took  couticil  of  the  wicked  one  -vho  was  a  murderer, 
and  by  his  advice  Cain   rn.ide  war  and' slew  his  brotlier, 
who  died  in,righteousness,  whose  blood  cried  unta  the 
Lord  from  the  ground,  and  caused  the  Lord  topranounce 
a.curse  from    the  earth  on  Cain,   which  had-  opened  heir 
mouth  to  receive  Abel's  blood  to  bide  it  from  his  wick- 
ed hands.     Here  is  the  beginning  of  w^ir   and    murder  5; 
and  by  this  same  counsellor  who  caused  Cain  to  slay  hisr 
brother,  it.is  carried  on  to  this  day*     After  all,  notice  the. 
goodness  of  God^ — although  Cain  had  done  spwkkedlyf,. 
yet  the  Lord  did  not  want  hiia  slain,  but.  put  a  mark  oni 
him  to  prevent  any  from  taking  away  his  life,  yet  he'vv.7 3 
to  b^conis  4  fugidve.  and^  vagaboml  in  the  eardi*.    H^ 


c  ^-  > 

then  wenl  from  the  presence  of  tae  Lord,  and  made  \in 
cjweiiiiig  ill  t ue  iaad  ot  N  .ere  theiujuse  of  God  ne- 

ver stood- nor   never  wtii.      ;  bay,.nouGe  tne  goodness  of 
God  tovvards  this  poor  wicked  man,  in  o rati r  to  spare  mm 
Uijtitl  iie'*w.oa;d  sead^  nis-  mercifiii  aagel  to  call  hini  to   re- 
peiitiui.eyik  oring  him  out  oi  nis  secoad  K^'ptianustate,  in 
which  he  vv  us  .n!.ered^  ife  i.ave  un  oppoi  tuiiit\  o^  receiving 
hi;a  vthom  tile  i.ord  .  au  promisi;  a  to^t-nd,  vvn-.  &e    c.dy  was- 
to  oc  aftfiei  ?eed   or  the  vvoiiaa,  out-iis  spiritof  Gud  ;  ik 
wastocoinetosevk  c^  sa'^e  po  riost  men,  on  condition  taat 
they  wuuidjxceivQrhim  i^.:  open  their  iie arts,  wiili  mvitation 
b^' pray -..r  lor  the  Lord  t*>  eunitintoihem  &  aup-^viththem, 
thai  tMey  nught  be  forgivea  aad  oe  made  welcome  to  sup 
v/^ith  him^    uii  pirtuke  of  Uic  parical  la  no  bro nijlit  by  him 
to  kee     rhe  Lord's  passover  ;  to    enable  them  lo  prepare 
for  tiieir  reinovd  out  of  Egypt   their  seeondotHtion,    and 
begii  the  third  \v%ich   mu^t  be  linished  before  they    can 
come  to  the  fourth  station  ;  where  they  are  restored   o  the 
ffr^seace  td"  Go  {,  whici>  iri^y  had  nut- seen  since  they  iirst 
^  had  departied  from  it. 

A-id,  as  i>e{ore  mentioned,  lest  Cain  should  be  sluin^ 
(a:cr.i)''he  jus-ly  deserved  itj  k  piea^ed  th<;  Lord  to  put  a 
ii*.irk  on  him*,  that  he  migiit  be  known  by  ail  living  ;  to 
prevent  them^from  killing- nim  OF,any  who  hadni*  mark, 
the  Lord  said  ihat-  ^  vvhose<:ver  slayeth  C  in^  vengeance 
9h<iii  be  taken  on  him  seven-foldv":  The  Lx^rd  is  iaiiiilul 
ia  ail  his  pr^.i^ses,  whether  it  be  to  piuiish  thoee  w^o  dis- 
regard his  word,  orto  honar  those  whoooeyhim;  there- 
fore  1  pray  alLof  you  vvho-are  ir^  bondage  and,  shivery  to 
the  d^:ist^roying'angcl,  known  by- the  &pi.3pit  of  war,  to. con-- 
s^der  what,  may  be  the  awful,  caasequenees  ofyour  beiag- 
fo^mdatthe  day  ofjadgmeat,  (vvnica  win  certainly  come 
oa  all  \\\\)  h.tve  been  or  ever  wUi  be  bor.i  of  womany  and 
be  brought  to  stand  before^  ik^t  judgms^^t  seat  of  Christ, 
tliere.  ta  give  an  account  of  the^r  coiiduct  hi.this  Jife,)  in 
the  garments  of  war  and ■  bloodshed':,  for  if-Cain's  pun^ 
ishtricnt-  was  grewter  than  he  could  bear,.,  as  l^i^  said  it  wiis, 
v/iiidi  was  .only  one  fokl^  by  w  do  you  think  it  wjill>ewith 
tho<je  who  disreg.Ard , die  thpeatenmg  word  oi  God,  v/hen 
he^  ys  that  seven db-ld  vengea^ice  shad  be  tatcen  ^.n  those 
v^ho- wiil-slay^^  Cain-^rrer.  he  ii-ad  pvita  mark  on  iiim*.  He 
was-    tiie.  iairiier  g^aU  miwUcii^i:*.  aadiii^'i?— iie.-was.th€ 


iirSt  man  wlio  killed  amo.h  »,  a  ij.  cUia  is  his  marie,  evm 
tiie^uiark  oi  aiurdcr — m  w  ii.)  nxv^  lu  ,  marctunng  spi- 
rit are  mar kJei' with  it,  aad  ure  )s.ao^v.\  by  all  who  live  :jy 
tile  hie  oi  iiie.  son. of  God,,  w-dch  Uaui  raised  ^aciii  irom 
tile  i.'Ad  by  briiigiiig  tuciiv  hup  cht:  ioarth  station,  where, 
^ah  ^1^^-'   ood.      As  Cain  -vis  du-  tiht  who  recrivei'. 

the  ,.iaraer,n;>-  iiiurk^,  s-^  uik.  posterity  or  children  are 
marked  wuh  die  6Uinc  mark,  ikaddesiiis  iorbidden  slaying^ 
any  Oi  thcm/.io'  only  themoutall  wno  are  iuthe  spirit  ot  war 
6l  hioodsaed,  u-ither  by  practice  )r  jvistific  ition,  meanso^ 
to  tneiiesh  and  are  to  reap  corrapcion,  /or  itis die  portion 
alotted  to  then  who  die  m  tae.  titid  that  brings  trte  briers 
and  thorns  af  war,  which  tear  aad  destroy  ttie  bodies  oj 
men  either  by  oiFence  or  defence,  and  bring  sach  caiami-» 
^ies  a'iiong  the  children  of  oi.^n,. 

After  Cam  hai  received  his  nark,  and  the.  Lord  hadT 
declared,  that  seven  fold  vengeance  shoLiid  be  taken  oa 
those  who  woaid  be  so  presa  npcuods  as  to  slay  him,  or 
anv  that  had  his  mark,  it  appears  that  men  feared  the 
Lord  so  mach,  that  there  was  no  snore  war  nor  murder  ; 
&)r  they  dreaded  the  pnuish  neat  promised  by  the  Lord, 
I  say,  that  for  four  ireneradons-tiere  was  neither  war  nor 
bloodshed,  of  vvtiich  we  hac^e  an)'  account  left  on  the  re- 
cords of  that  ancient  book  called  the  Bible,  in  which  all 
scripture  records. are  kept,  and. might  serve  us  as  a  look- 
iflg-glass  by  which  we  nugat  see  oar  own  faces,  and  know 
what  mark  v/e.  bear,  for  we  are  ad  marked,  either  with 
Cain's  mark,  wrdch  inaki^s  us  known  to  belong  toliis  family 
and  driven  fromlhe  presence  of  the  I*ord  j — or  else  we 
have  that  n^ark, which  Christ  said,  uhat  ay  it  all  mea  should 
know  them  to  be  his  discipies,,  th  it  is  his  foUowers  who 
have  followed  his  angel  olu  of  spiritual  Egypt,  and  the 
bondage  of  many  sinfal  lusts  ;  and  oy  this  angel  ofT grace 
redeemed  from. their  Egyptian,  desires*.  As  a  rewardT 
for  being. obedient  to  the  guidance  of  his  holy  angel,  it 
has  pleased  ciie  Lord  to  give  them- ids  owa mark,  whicl^. 
is- his  love  j,  ev-n  a.  measiire  oi'tliat.  lov-e.  which  Christ. 
hirasel£  was.- marked,  with,.  alLwaoiiAve  it.  are  returning; 
unto  Id m  who  is  king  anl. governor  of  the  promised  Imd  ; 
where  lie  rules  ail  his  marS':;d.sa'>jeots  ;iv  l'i\y  and'peacej 
tliere  is^  no  war  in.  his  little  flock— ii  is.  a  little  ^ock  i^ 
eoiU£ari3i>4^la4hose.  wha.ani.  a:^r*:ed   with,  tiie  spirit  of 


i^rsLT ;  and  perflaps  tTicre   is  a  thousand  t(y  One  wiA   fh# 
iDd.  k  ol  ihi^  dtsiro)  ,  > ,  where  ihePe  is   on^  marktd  wiib 
the  pure  love  ol  Gud,  which  is  Christ's  mark,    and  are 
redeertied  by  tiaving  coatimied  in  iheir  Lord's  word  until 
they  kiieu'  itie  trutn,  and  the  truth  hath  made  them  Iree^ 
from    he  slavish  yoke  which  remains  on  all  Cain's  family, 
hvery  cue  satying  bis  i  iloxv-creatures  und<jr  our  gospel, 
dispensation,  either   in  oiiensive  war  which  sphiigs  I'ronci 
prJae   and  covetousness,.  or  of  delensive'^    cfarrita  on  bjr 
the  spirit  of  revenge,  have  all    Cain's  mark.      They  pre- 
tend to  call  onthel^ord  and  to  pu    their  trust  in  the  God- 
of  heaven,  biu  tiity  knuvv  riim  not,  for   ij  tiity  knew   t/ini 
they  wouui  keep liis  commandments;    one"'^'^whi«h  is, 
*'  i    thy  entn-)  hungers  leed   him,  if  he  thirst  give    him- 
dri.  k  j"  the  it.ilov  ng  also,  ''  1  say  unio  ytti  thi.ty-<Hi  resis^. 
EGt^Ail,  for   f  ti.iey  smite  you  on  ouech^ek  turn  the  other 
also  ;  and  if  tbc-y  compel  you  to  go  with  thsm  one  cnile^ 
go  V  ith  tl  f-m  twain  ;  I'x  they  take  away  your  i  oods,    ask 
then/  not  aga  n  :  it  thty  curse  you,   bless  them  ;  if  they 
spit -fully  usejou^  pra^  for  th'.m,"    In  a  word,  youm  ist 
ov.rconae  tlu-m   by   th.t  example   of  goodn- ss  ;  nd   love 
VAhich  }Our  Lord  has    given  you  as  a   mark  ol  his  kind- 
ness, by  winch  you  wni  be  known  as  loiiowers  oi  Ctirist, 
and    vvould    lay    <!own   your  lives  fer  the  sak« -of^ybur 
brethern.      But  these  and  such  like  con  mands  are  not  ob- 
served nor  kept, by  those  who  are   baptized  in  the  spirit  o€' 
war    V.  bieh  fiiis'them  with  the  spirit  of  revenge  ;  and  tc 
be  revenged  ihcy   call  on  tVei-  father's   family  to  go  with 
them,  if  they  ctn  find  a   sufficient  number  they  will  go  iiv 
Jiigh  spirits,  putting  their  trust  in  the  arm     of  flesh,    or 
in  their  well  disciplmt  d   number.     The  greatest  part  of 
them  pretend  I'o  put  their  trust  in  the  God  ol  heaven,  yet. 
they  will  run  il  tiiey  see  that  their  o];ponents  have  a  greater 
and  better   disciplined  nv.mber,  which  clearly  shows  that?" 
their  trust  or  faith  is  not  in  the  Lord  of  heaven  ;.  for  was 
it  so  thty  woulu  stand  firm,  like  the  prophet  did  when  the 
king  sent  captains  with  their  fifties  to  take  him,  but  the 
captains  v/iththtir  htmdred  men  could  not  take  hinrt;  be- 
cat  se  the   pre  phct's  trust  was   in   the  Lord,  and  God  de* 
fended  him  by  his  word  without  gnn  or  sw  ordo    Yea,eveii< 
his  V  i.ri\,  (li  \  am  a  mrm  of  God)  let  fire  come  down  and^   ^ 
4©&uoy  these  taL.;iaiiiS.and  their  fiitits*^    if  tod  did  tlius- 


(      23      ) 

defend  one  of  his  little  aock,  vnll  het  not  defend  all  his  fal^ 
lowers,  whose  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 

We  brought  nothi.m;  \nto  this  world,  neither  can  we 
carry  any  thing  out  of  it,  except,  a  -ood  or  a  bad  consci- 
ence, and  none  wha  remain  in  the  spirit  of  war  &  blood- 
shed, until  their  breath  leaves  their  bo<iies  can  l>e  ^ood.— 
Who  are  those  who  go  to  war  without  putting  some  trust 
in  the  arms  of  Qesh,  which  will  bring  the  curse  ol  God  on 
them  I  It  is  written  "  cursed  is  the  man  th:it  maketh^flesh 
his  arm,  whose  heart  departeth  from  the  living  God.  .  it 
their  hearts  were  good  and  right,  in  the  sight  )t  the  Lord» 
he  would  not  suffer  them  to  be  tormented  with  the  plagnes 
of  war ;  for  when  men's  ways  are  in  the  Lord,  he  maketh 
even  their  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  them.  But  Cam  s 
family  being  full  of  evil,  although  they  bring  their  offering, 
thev  like  their  father's  will  not  be  respected  nor  received 

they  are  the    fruits  of  the  earthy  and  God  cannot  have 

any  respect  to  these  earthly-minded  offerings,  which 
praise  him  in,v^ord  with  lieing  tongues,  and  deny  him 
by  their  wicked  and  bloody  deeds— following  the  exam- 
ple of  their  father,  who-  left  the  ways,  advice  and  coun- 
cil  of  the  Lord  ;  and  v/ent  out  from  his  holy  presence  into 
Ihe  land  of  Nod,  in  whose  ways  God  has  no  pleasure. 

Christ  never  gave  by  word  or  deed  any  example  of  de- 
stroying men's  lives,  but  to  the  reverse  he  said,  that  men 
did  not  know  of  what  spirit  they  were  when  they  wanted 
»ien  killed;  he  further  said,  that  he  did  not  come  to  de- 
stroy men's  lives,  but  to  save  them — th's  he  truly  mani- 
fests, by  reproving  Peter  for  cutting  off  the  ear  of  the 
high  priest's  servant.  Thus  ydu  may  see  that  war  springs 
from  the  wicked  whose  ways  do  not  please  the  Lord  ;  far 
this  cause  he  suffereth  them  to  torment  each  other  in  the 
calamities  of  war,  which  would  never  have  been  the  case 
if  men  would  walk  m  the  love  and  fear  of  God,  ^  God 
foreseeing  that  the  Canaanites  would  not  walk  in  his  love 
and  peace,  but  in  their  own  ways,  and  chose  to  follow 
their  evil  hearts,  and  delight  in  fulfiiling  the  lusts  of  the 
flesh  ;  he  said,  "  that  there  s-hould  be  wars  and  rumors  of 
wars,"  for  he  knew  their  wickedness  would  bring  these 
things  about.  And  because  the  Lord  foretold  thsm,  the 
.deceiver  make  bis  followers  think  and  believe  itishonor,» 
:,bk  and  right  to  fight  ajid  die  iivthe  field  of  battle 5,  bul 


(     S4     ) 

tliey  Viave  forgot  tliat  they  are   hose  who  are  to hnve  strong. 1 
dciiisioas  to  believe  a  lie,   and  tliat  they  may  be  damned 
biicduse  they  did  not,  nor  will  not  receive  the  love  of  truth. 

Let  us  no-v  turn   and  see  Vvhit  the  scriptures  d/cLire, 
and  it  will  appear  that  from  the  time  of  Cain's  killing  Abelf  '■' 
there  was  no  more  war  for  four  generations,    for  men  so 
mach  feared  the  Lord  that  none  were  so  presumptuous  as 
to  commit  so  horrid  a  crime  as  to  murder  a  man  ;  but  in 
the  fitih  generation  there  was  one  found  by  his  own  con- 
fession, who  declared  that  he  had  killed  a  man  to  his  owii 
wounding,  and  a  young  man  to  his  own  hurt,     it  appears 
thathe  dreaded  vvhat  was  justly  due  to  him  for  doinj^  what  he 
was  forbidden  to  do,  and  by  his  own  confession  was   al- ; 
ready  wounded  and  hurt  ;  yet  he  dreaded  something  still 
greater  than  his  v/ounds.     Such  is  the  case  in  this  age  of 
the  world,  to  many  who  are  wounded  inthedi  eadful  field  of  I 
war  and  bloodshed,    to  their  great  hurt.         This  is  not  all.: 
their  misery — they  are  like  Lamech,  the  first  man  of  the 
fifth  generation,  who  paid  so  little  regard  to  the  threathen 
ing  word  of  God,  that  he  slayed  a  young  man  of  Cain's 
family,  to  his  own  wounding  and  to  his  own  hurt ;  yet  it 
appears  that  this  was  not  all,  he  dreaded  not  only  the  seven 
fold   vengeance,    but  the  seventy-seven  fold;    and  if  one 
fold  was  so  heavy  on   Cain  as  to  make  him  say  that  his  r-i 
punishment  was   greater   than  he  could  bear;  how  must  ' 
have  been  the  fears  of  Lamech  the  second  murderer,  who  : 
knew  that  vengeance  would  be  taken  on  him  seventy-seven 
fold.     This  curse  has  remained  from  generation  to  gene- 
ration; \ea,  even  to  this  day,  for  if  any  of  Cdn's  family 
or  kindred  are  slain,  the  remainder  (tho'  it  be  tvventy  or 
thirty  years  afterwards,    if  it  comes  to  their  knowledge) 
will  require  vengeance,  and  if  possible  will  take-  it  seven- 
ty-stven  fold  before  they  will  be  sati.sfivd,  and  if  they  can- 
not revenge  themselves  on  the  actual  slayer  or  mnrflerer, 
they'  will   the    first  opportunity  take   it  on  his  children  ; 
even  those  born  after  the  fact  v/as  committed.        For  the 
truth  of  this  let  us  consider  on  the  great  revenge  hnd  up 
in  some  American  breasts,  which  will  not  fully  be  done 
away  in  the  present  generation. 

If  God  j2:ives  a  seven  fold  vengeance  on  all  who  are 
guilty  of  slaying  any  who  have  Cain's  m  -rk,  although  it 
"be  in  the  field  of  battle  j  if  any  one  is  killed^  he  is  slain 


(     55     ) 

arc!  nviirflered  hv  the  sword  or  weapon  of  the  slayer,  evfn 
itit  be  by  the  agreement  and  •.,ppohument  ol  the  rulers  of 
the  lard  ;  yet  he  who  shtyshis  leilow  creature  is  guilty  of 
manslaughter,  and  if  ibund  guilty  by  the  judge  and  jury 
cf  heaven,  he  \%  iU  not  escape  vengeance  ot  seven  iold,  it 
he  escapes  that  cf  seventy  seven  ;  for  it  is  him  who  dared 
be  so  presumptuous  as  to  rob  God  ot  his  fruitiul  field,  m 
which  he  purposed  to  sow  his  holy  redeeming  seed,  by 
which  the  poor  Cainites  might  have  been  saved,  ahhough 
God  had  not  y^t  prepared  this  part  of  his  field  to  receive 
his  seed,  but  remained  in  its  wild  growth,  like  many  parts 
of  our  Unds  which  we  have  not  yet  made  ready  to  re- 
ceive our  seed  of  wheat,  corn  or  any  other  grain.  I  his 
land  we  have  bought  with  our  money,  and  intend  at  a 
future  day  to  make  ready  to  recei\  e  seed ;  but  it  any  rnan 
takes  away  this  uncultivated  land  and  rob  us  of  our  just 
ri^ht,  although  we  had  not  yet  spent  much  labour  to  make 
it  tit  for  our  use,  but  did  intend  to  prepare  it  at  a  future 
d^iv,  would  not  such  robber  offend  us  ?  O  yes,  you  know- 
that  it  would  offend  us  very  much  to  have  our  rights  takea 
away  by  anv  man  who  never  laboured  for  it,  nor  had  any 
just  right  to  it.  Consider  what  law-suits  and  trials  in 
court  there  are  on  these  occa'^-.ns.  You  all  know  that  if 
anv  man  tries  to  injure  us  this  way,  or  robs  us,  we  can- 
ijoi  be  reconciled  to  such  a  robber,  until  he  restores  us  our 
land  and  acknowledges  his  transgression  ;  we  would  thea 
hi'.rdh  be  satisfied,  but  would  in  all  likelihood  waiii  some- 
thing more,  for  the  damage  d-  ne  unto  us  by  such  robbery  ; 
even  after  all  this'we  could  scarcely  be  as  well  satisri'.  d 
with  him  asifhehadnever  committed  ortredsuLhrobbeiy- 
Of  ali  the  children  of  men,  many  are  what  may  be  called 
the  Lord's  unruhivated  ground,'andbringonly  the  second 
stationary  fruits,  which  are  wild  and  hinder  ihe  growth  of 
the  good  seed  of  God's  love,  and  which  the  Lord  may  not 
yet  h..ve  sowed  in  their  hearts,  but  he  may  intend  to  send 
the  cuhivator  to  prepare  them  for  the  reception  of  his  seed 
at  some  future  time. 

Soiiie  may  say  that  all  who  are  killed  in  war  is  done  by 
the  foreordioation  of  God  ;  if  so,  no  man  can  be  blamed 
far  murder,  and  God  must  bear  the  blame  if  there  is  any, 
and  all  mtirderers  be  innocent;  for  in  manshvighter  ihey 
Oiily  do  what  God  has  ioreurdaiiied  thera  to  do.     Tiiis  i» 


a  dangerous  if  not  blasphemous  doct'ine,  and  I  can  tell  ^H 
"who  hold  that  opinion,  that  it  is  dangeroas  for  a  man  to 
accuse  his  king  (who  is  but  a  mar.)  oi  partiahty  or  injus- 
tice ;  how  much  more  must  it  be  tor  mortal  man  to  accuse 
the  holy  one  of  heaven,  cf  being  guilty  of  foreordaining 
and  appointing  ni«n  lo  do  such  horrid  and  wicked  crimes; 
for  if  God  has  foreordained  and  decreed  it  to  be  done,  he 
alone  must  be  the  faiher  of  these  horrid  crimes,  and  the 
man  who  commits  them  must  be  innocent—he  only  does 
what  God  has  foreordained  him  to  do.  But  my  dear 
children,  I  pray  you  all  to  shun  the  very  thought  of  such' 
a  docrfne,  it  is  but  the  charms  ot  Satan  which  entangles  so 
many  thousands  of  people,  by  which  ihey  risk  their  future 
happiness — living  in  this  world  in  their  sins,  without  re- 
pentance, without  redemption,  without  regeneration,  and 
without  being  bom  again  ;  for,  say  they,  God's  decree  is^ 
past,  our  lot  is  sure,  and  no  alteration  can  be  made  ;  for  if 
we  are  of  the  number  of  God's  elect,  do  as  we  may  all  will' 
be  well,  and  our  trying  to  live  a  righteous  life  will  do  no 
good.  Under  this  opinion  the  Devil  beguiles  them  and 
makes  them  lay  the  fault  of  the^r  horrid  murdering  and 
adult€rous  deeds  on  the  pure  and  holy  God,  who  wili 
judge  and  give  judgment  on  them  according  to  their  wic-' 
ked  deeds—even  the  deeds  of  manslaughter,  which  robe 
IjoA  ofpartof  his  field  by  killing  uncultivated  men,  who 
had  not  received  God's  seed,  which  hinders  the  Lord  froni^ 
sowing  his  seed  into  their  hearts.  All  who  are  thus  slain 
die  without  the  peace  and  love  of  God,  and  without  any 
ti''ae  hope  of  salvation.  But  how  will  these  slayers  and? 
robbers  reconcile  them.selves  to  God,  after  having  destroy- 
ed men  who  had  Cain's  mark,  which  was  purposely  put 
on  them  to  prevent  all  others  from  killing  them;  knowing 
the^^re  the  work  of  God's  hands,  made  for  his  own  glory, 
that  it  might  be  prepared  as  a  ternple  for  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  dwell  in  at  a  future  day  ;  which  work  the  Lord  has  not 
only  made,  but  has  sent  his  Son  into  the  world  to  renew 
hib  iawiul  right,  by  suiftring  death  in  order  to  ransom 
these  poor  creatures,  and  by  the  price  of  his  precious  bloody 
paid  as  a  purchase  contract,  by  which  men  might  knovr 
ti».ti  the  Lord  has  the  w'hole  right  ;  and  if  by  these  two 
titles  God  has  a  right,  then  they  must  all  belong  to  him, 
whtdier  they  are  wicked  or  ughtcoust     What  man  on 


(     S7     ) 

^arthhas  any  right  to  destroy  the  inheritonce  of<tod,  and 
l)f  guiltless  ?  I  shall  iorever  dispute  the  right  oi  any  man 
claimkig  such  authority,  by  which  he  slays  or  cause  men 
^obe  slain,  either  in  offensive  or  defensive -war";  unless 
lie  shov/s  me  when  and  where  God  gave  up  the  lawful  and 
just  right  he  has  on  all  human  beings,  ior  he  first  made 
and  created  men  of  all  descripiion,  which  gives  him  an 
undoubted  right  to  them  all;  even  after  this  he  bought 
.them,  and  gave  in  payment  the  precious  blood  of  Christy 
'that  by  it  they  might  all  be  cleansed  of  their  former  evils  ; 
intending  them  as  a  part  of  his  field,  wherein  he  might 
when  he  saw  proper  sow  his  heavenly  seed,  which  being 
sown  might  bnng  fruits  to  his  honor  and  glory ;  but  wiien 
any  are  .slain  before  they  are  prepared  to  receive  this 
lieavenly  seed,  God  is  hindered  and  robbed,  so  that  there 
is  no  possibility  for  him  to  receive  any  good  iruits  there- 
from; and  the  slayer  or  slayers  will  have  to  account  lor 
j^heir  deeds  at  a  future  day. 

If  no  man  hath  a  right  to  kill  or  destroy  God*s  inheri- 
iance  before  he  purchases  his  right  of  God,  who  has;  the 
sole  right  to  all  mankind^  what  do  you  think  O  ^nanblayers 
^'ill  be  the  consequence,  when  God  calls  on  you  to  give 
him  an  account  where  your  poor  slain  brother  is  f' whose 
blood  is  crymg  out  of  the  earth  to  the  Lord  for  vengeance, 
IjQt  only  for  one  fold  but  for  seven,  and  it  mav  not  cease 
until  seventy-seven  are  taken.  After  this  how  or  what 
way  will  you  fip.d  to  pacify  that  God  you  have  robbed,  by 
J^illin>^  and  destroying  that  body  he  had  ma<:le  to  sow  his 
precious  seed  In  ?  Think  on  this  O  manslayers  before  it 
Is  too  late,  for  if  you  are  found  in  this  sinful  practice  at 
the  hour  of  your  death,-  yoii  vili  be  found  in  your  sins  at 
Jthe  day  of  judgment,  for  which  crimes  Christ  "will  pro- 
liounce  that  eternal  separation  between  you  and  his  fol- 
lowers, who  are  the  children  of  peace  and  love,  w^hom 
€^od  will  place  on  his  right  hand  with  that  glorious  call, 
saying,  ''  come  ye  blessed  of  the  Lord,  enter  into  the  joys 
«f  your  Lord,  into  the  kingdom  which  he  hath  prepared 
for  all  who  followed  him  out  of  e  il." 

But  wh  twill  the  Lord  siy  unto  you,  ye  manslayers  ? 

who  refuse  to  foilo>v   him   in   the    way  of  salvation;    an^ 

«huse  the  way  of  destruction  where  you   are    found  with 

J^ixlii^s  mark,  which  will  be  a  wiiuess  against  you,  aiid  by 

D 


(     38      ) 

wnicli  the  Lord  will    separate   you  from  his    shec||^  arid 
pl-ice  you  on  his  left  hand  with  the  rest  of  the  goats  ;  you 
are  not  his  sheep,    for  they    are  marked   with  the  love  of 
God,  of  which  you  are  strangers  in  this  world,  therefore 
you  will   be  strangers  to  his  happiness  hereafter — where  ^ 
you  ^^  ill  be  made  acquainted  ^\  ith  that  eternal  separation 
Avhich  God  will  make  between    his  sheep    and  his  goats,  , 
which  goats  you  are,  as  long  as  you  are  or  remain  in  Cain's 
mark  ;  the  Lord  will  say  to  you,     "  Depart  ye  cursed  iir^  ^ 
to  the  everlasting  fire  prepared  for  the  Devil  and  his  ajt- 
gels."     You  will  then  be    convinced  that  you  never  had 
>any  right  from   the  Lord  to  kill  or  destroy  your  feliovv-- 
creatures       I  will    now  leave  off  by  telling  ycu,  that  he 
who  leads  you  into  war  is  not  Christ  the  king  of  peace  & 
love,  btjt  an   antichrist,  who  has  and  will  deceive  all  but 
the  elect  of  God,    who  are  the  Lord's  sheep,  and  there  , 
are  no  others  that  are  his  sheep  but  the  elect,   who  have 
Tt  turned  from  the  wilderness  of  sin  to  the  great  shepherd 
ard  bishop  of  their  souls,  vv  ho  is  king  of  the  holy  land. 

Let  what  I  have  already  said   and  written  satisfy  you^ 
ii-5v~dear  children  and    others,  as    a  sufiicient  testimony  , 
sgainst  war.     But  after  all,  should   any  be  left  in  doubtis 
whether  war  is  justifiable  by  the  Lord  in    his   gospel  dis- 
pensation, I  pray  you  ail  to  walk  in  the  path  which, I,  your 
father,  did  in  the  "beginning  of  our  American  revolution, 
at  that  time  I  was  like  many  others,  who  hear  the  scrip,-  , 
tures  sav,  **  that   there   should  be  wars   a"nd    rumours  of 
wars,"  but  did  not  know  whether  it  was  right  or  wrong  . 
for  the  foilowt-rs    of  Christ  to  go  to  war,    fight  and  kill  . 
their  fellow-creatures,  or  not ;  but   I  sincerely  desired  to 
know  the  truth,  so  thcit  I    might   be  made  free  from  sin- 
nirrtr  ag.ninst  God  ;  and  I  heard  a  voice  say  that  "  there 
W5^s  no  fighting  bread    liowed  in  the  gospel  as  from  the 
Lord."     This  voice  gre:.lly  concerned   me    to  know  the 
truth,  for  at  that  time  I  wanted  to  please  the  Lord,  by 
doing  what  Avas  right  in  his  sight,.    To  obtain  this  know- 
hdiie  there  was  no  safe  dependence  to.be  put  in  man  ;  but 
the  Lord  shewed  me  great  mercy,  and  gi.ve  me  to  under-  ■, 
stand    hat  the  true  knowledge  was  with  God,  and  he  covild 
and  '*  ould  gh^e  it  to  all  who  truly  desir'ed  to^find  it.     The 
way  I  ?ock  was  to  walk    in  the   path   of  praying  to   God 
BJghtand  day  to  let  me  know  the  truth,  as  truth  dwelleth 


(      29      ) 

with  him  ;  whether  war  was  rijrht  or  wrong.  I  also  gave 
up  much  of  mv  thne  in  searching  the  scriptures,  with 
prayer  to  God  that  it  would  please  hhii  to  give  me  the 
true  understanding  df  them,  that  I.  might  know  what  to 
do  or  leave  undone.  It  was  a  trying  time  to  r^e,  and 
what  made  it  more  so,  were  the  preachers  of  tiat  day  who 
iustifled  the  shedding  of  Wood  in  a  defensive  war  which 
thev  pretended  they  were  fighting;  and  that  all  who  went 
there  were  to  fight  the  Lord's  battle.  ^I  hese  being  men 
of  learning,  and  I  hut  a  poor  ignorant  and  almost  unlearn- 
ed man, -you  may  be  sure  it  increased  my  troub.es  ;  be^ 
sides  I  was  threatened  for  not  joining  thf.  warriors,  oUt 
for  all  this  I  could  not  be  brought  to  forsake  my  path  m 
?)raving  to  God  that  it  would  please  him  to  give  me  what 
i  desired  more  than  gold.  After  travelling  in  this  man^ 
»er  perhaps  more  than  twelve  months,  I  was  lavourea  c. 
the  Lord,  and  came  to  the  desired  e.d,  where  it  pleasec- 
him  to  give  me  the  things  I  had  so  long  sought  for  ;  my 
8oul  was  then  satisfied,  and  I  hope  will  ever  be  thankful 
to  him.  His  gifts  are  so  firm  that  all  the  antichrists  can^ 
not  lessen  them,  any  more  than  they  can  lessen  God  ir> 
his  kingdom.  I  could  bring  a  multitude  qf  texes  trom 
the  Bible  as  witness,  but  the  Lord,  the  giver  «ilight  ^nd 
life,  is  the  one  to  depend  on,  and  apply  to — ^hiiri  who  has 
visitod  you  in. the  secret  of  your  hearts,  even  him  whom- 
the  Father  hath  sent  to  redeem  all  who  will  receive  him, 
and  give  themselves  up  to  his  government,  whilst  in  this 
v/orld.  But  it  is  in  these  days  as  it  was  in  those  past,  lor 
the  scriptures  Si«f ,  that  he  was  in  the  world,  and  the  world 
knew  him  not. 

I  am  now  come  to  the  place  where  I  can  Inform  you^  • 
how  you  may  know  when  the  delivering  angel  of  God 
co.nes  to  save  you  who  are  willing  to  receive  hirh,  or  to 
those  who  are  not  willing  ;  for  he  will  come  and  appear 
to  all,  that  all  mav  be  left  without  excuse  ;  those  who  re- 
ceive him,  to  them  he  v/ill  give'pow^er  to  travel  through 
the  diife rent  stations,  and  become  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  God.  But  they  who  will  not  receive  him  by  his  coun- 
cil, j^re  the  enemies  whom  the  Lord  will  declare  that  they 
would  not  have  him  to  reign  over  them,  and  his  holy  pre- 
sence will  slay  them  ;  whi^e  those  whovreceive  him  will  be 
called  to,  the  joys  of  their  Lord,     Remember  the  words  I 


said  *h?it  be  was  in  the  worla  and  world  knew  him  not.— 
Remember  also,  tluU  ihe  fccriptures  say,   ••'  that  to  kn"ow    i 
him  whom  the  Father  hath  seni  is  etermii  life/'     In  order     ^ 
that  you  may  know  liiiti  hereafter,  at  the  time  of  his  com- 
ing,  I  will  ask  you  who  it  was  that  came  to  you,  not  only 
one  time  but  many  tinres,  and  talked  with  you  in  the  se- 
cret of  your  hearts,  when  you  vere  alone  or  by  yourselves, 
sometimes  in  one  place,  and  sometimes  at  another  ;  when 
some  power  you  did  not  think  or,  drew  your  minds  into 
a  solemn   silence — began  to  think  on  the  state  and  condi- 
tion ofvour  souls — of  dying,  and  where  you  w^ould  then 
go  to,  whether  loheaven  or  hell, should  you  die  -nyour  pre- 
sent siniui  state  of  life  ?    which  I  call  the  second  station  j 
did  you  not  h:ar  a  spirit  speak  to  you,  whose  voice  yoii 
well  understood  ;  because   it  told  you  the  truth  and  you 
could  not  deny  it  ?     it  told  you  that  you  were  not  righte- 
ous— it  made  you  sensible  that  if  you  were  to  die  without 
altering  the  course  of  your  life,  you  could  not  go  to  hea- 
ven.    By  this  vision,  voice  or  light  you  saw  your  sins,  or 
part  of  them  ;  you  also  saw   that  you  ought  to  do  better,  ^ 
and  leave  yoyt^i; ^sinful  ways — you  can  remember  it  showed' 
you  the  v.avs^'ou  ought  to  walk  or.  do,  with  some  pressing   . 
desires  1  i  to  go  or  try  to  go  to  heaven.     Lookback,  ] 

and  i  think  you  will  remember    that  often  times  you  have-  r 
been  thus  exercised,    since  you  knew  good  from  evil,     t 
ask  you  all  who  this  was  who  talked  with  you  at  these  so- 
lemn  times,  by  which  you   saw  that  you   were  not   good,<^  . 
arA  ou2:htto  do  better  ?   If  you  do  not  know,  let  me  tell' 
you  it  was  thehoiy  argel  or  in  other  words  that  light  whieb 
ctHie  down  from  heaven,  called  the   Christ  of  God,  senti 
into  the  world  by  the  Father,  that  whosoever  received  and 
believed  In  him  might  not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life.  I- 1 
will  also  ask  you  \vhetheryou  did  know  this  holy  messen- 
ger or  not,  and  whether   you  received  him  or  not?  fori 
know  the  father    of  all  mercies  has  or  will  send  him  to  yoi> 
all  :  but  i  believe  that  he  has  by  his  spiritual  voice  spokerv 
to  vou  ;  and  if  he  has,  remember  that  the  scriptures  sav, 
if  vou  hear  his  voice  harden  not  your  hearts,  as  some  did 
of  old,  and  perished  in   the   wilderness  ;  but   if  you  are 
favoured  again  to  hear  his    voice,    I    pray  you  to  ob^y"; 
it,  this  obedience  is  the  best  sacrifice  you  can  offer  to  the 
Lord  ;  but  I  am  afraid  some  of  yoaare  like  some, of  ek'  > 


(     41      ) 

t9  whom  he  came  but  received  him  not.     I  will  further 
ask  you  how  you  treated  tliis  holy  one  ?  did  you  receive 
him  with  the  arms  of  your  souis  and  press  him  as  to  your 
hearts,  praying  him  to  stgy  with  you  i  was  his  company 
sweet,  was  tre  your  beloved — did  you  give  yourselves  up  to 
him,  and  did  you  make   or  desire    to  make  a  solemn  co- 
venant with  h  m,  us  a  virgin  makes  in  her  covenental mar- 
Tying  vow   to  her    husband,  by   which    she  loses  her   cM 
sirname  ?  in  this  covenant  did  you  also  lose  your  old  sir- 
name  "  Sin  ^"  did  you  hear  the  blessed  company  which.- 
came   with  your   Lord  say,  blessed   is   the    bride  of  our 
Lord,  who  is  now  married  by   the    everlasting  covenant 
of  our  God  !  did  you  know  and  hear  that  your  name  was 
changed,  from  a    wilful  sinner  to  a  saint   or  a   christian  ? 
did  you  feel  the  sweet  flo wings  of  the  love  of  God  in  your 
.  souls  ?  did  you  hear  the   sweet  tongues  of  angels  saying, 
glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace  and  good 
rwill  towards   the  children  of  men  ;  did  you. feel  him  all 
lovely  to  your  souls,  insomuch    that  you  could  leave  all 
things  of  this  world  for  his    sake  ?    was  this  feast  of  love 
so  ravishing  to  your  hear  s  that  you  wanted  all  people  to 
come  and  taste  of  the  good  things  of  the  Lord,  Vv'hieh  he 
had   given    you,     and  are  only  to  be  known  by  them  who 
receive  him  ?   The  riches  of  this  marriage  feast  the  world 
does  not  know,  they  cannot  understand  them  ;  the  Lord 
iioes  ngt  give  these  lovely  riches  to  any  but  those  who  re- 
ceive him  in  the  marriage  covenant,  in  which  they  resign 
^themselves  entirely  to  him,  as  a  bride  to  the  bridegroom, 
who  takes  her  away  from  her  father's  house,  and  she  fol- 
lows him  to  his  father's  house  ;  when  she  came  there  her 
.  change  was  so  great  a  satisfaction  thatshe  would  not  for  all 
:the  world  leave  her  husband,  and    go  back  again  to  live 
in  her  father's  house,  in  the  manner  she   had  lived  before 
,  ahe  was  married.     O  my  dear  children,  you  cannot  know 
,  these  things  and  enjoy  them  unles  you  receive  the  Lord, 
and  follow  him  into  the  fourth   station  where  his   fatiiCi  '5 
house  stands  ;  wdien  there  you  shall  enjoy  more    of  the 
riches  of  his  love  than  I  can  tell  vou   of,  but  this  is  given 
^nly  to  those  who  receive  and  follow    him  from  the   land 
ct  sin  to  the  land  of  righteousness,  where  the  ivieek  inherit 
the  earth  under  them,  and  the  heavens  above  tbeirx.     Mv 

D  :Z 


(     42     )  ■ 

de;^  children  if  you  could  ail   come     and    tell   me     tr^ 
truth,  (as  it  is  in  the  Lord)  that  you  have  all  received  iC 
followed   him   to  these   precious  enjoyments,    which    he 
does  and  will  give  lo  every  soul  of  men,  both  white  and 
bUck,  or  of  what^vci  nation  under  the  heavens,  that  vvil  jrc- 
ceive  and  foliow  him  to  the   land  of  righteousness  where 
the  Son  and  Father   are    both  one,    and    where    his    fol-^ 
lovvers    are    bui  one     and  cun   prais:-    the   Lord   tcr    his 
redeeming  love  ;     for    he    has   given  them  a  measure  of 
his  spirit  by  which  they  love  and  praise  him — here  he  both 
shows  his  goodness  and    freely  gives  it  to   them — it  is  so 
rich  a  jjiwcl  to  their  souls  thist  they  would    not  part  with 
it  for  the  world,     O  !  if  I  could  believe  that  you  have  all 
come  to  these  enjoyments,  my  happiness  would  be  great- 
ly enlarged,  and  many  of  my  sorrows  would  flee  away. — 
But  I  am  left  to  fear  that  some  of  yt»uhave  not  been  kind 
to  my  Lord,  when  he  came  to  you  in  love,  to  court  your 
souls  and  try  to  persuade  you  to  become  his  spouse,  teil- 
iiig  you  he  would  marry  you  in  the  everlasting  covenant, 
on  condition  you  would    oniy    agree    to  forsake   all  your 
sins  and  follow  him  in  the  way  of  regenertition,^  by  which 
he  would-  bring  you  safe  to  his  father's  house,-  and  where 
he  v/ould  be  your  kind  and  everiasiing  husband. 

I  know  that  some  of  you   have  been  almost   willing  to 
give  ypurselves  up  to^he  desire  of  the  Lord,  but  1  great- 
ly fear  that  some  of  you  have  d-ealed  very  unwisr-ly  with 
him  ;  for  he  came  in  true  love  to  seek  you,  that  he  might 
make  you  righteous  in.  this  world  and  happy  hereafter,  my 
fear  is  that  you  have  denied  and  put  him  off  with  flatter- 
ing promises,  tho'  he  mide  3^ou  sei-ksibk  that  it  would  be 
b'otter  for  you  to  agree  to  his   proposals  and  go  with  him 
— that  you  have   looked   to  something  that  you  wer«   not 
reaJy  to  leave — pcrh.ips    put  hiny  off  with   saying  in  your 
h(^art3,     that  after  you  obtniaed  this,   or  that  thing,    yoa 
would  alter  the  course   of  your  lives,  and   do  the  things 
you  b'aw  by  the  light  of  his  heavenly  visitation,  you  ought 
to  do,  and  leave  off  doing  those  tnings^  v/hicii  ne  told  you 
njt  to  v^o  ;     and  thus    I  fear    chat  you  have   parted  v/ah 

hi  n  ^v'\3  is  tiife  greatest  friend  that  ever  was  ta  xhe  chil- 

1  ■     «•  J'     .-,  f 

aren  of  men.  '  ^ 

Co  isiier   ay   dear  chil  Iren,  and  all  you  ojy  ckarCbl-* 
lo^^-crcatarc>,  £ov  X  vvrltc  tiiis  f;>r  voic  sakesia  th^love 


(     i^     ) 

oTGod,  as  well  aa  for  my  dear  children  ;  I  say  con^idef 
how  danp-erous  it  may  be,    if  you  hiive  seiu   dwi  l^ord 
aNvay  in  the  above   manner,  how   do  you    know    he  ever 
^viU  come  again,  for    his  father  has   said,  that  his  spirit 
shall  not  always  strive    with  mm.     Don  t  you  hear  hira 
a^r'm  the  scripuires,    "  yet  a   little    while  I  am  m  the 
world  ;"  after  that ''-  little  while"  is  a  heavenly  visuauon^ 
wherein  som  mvsend  him  away  wuh  flattering  promises  j 
but  after  this   "  little  while,"    which  may  be  only  one  or 
two  hours  at  one  time,  and  two  or  three  at  anotaer  ;  after 
this  if  you  will  not  make   covenant  with  and  receive  him» 
he  may  leave  you  to  >our  own    ruin,  to  follow  your  lust- 
ful  desires,  which   you  would   not  torsake,    although  on 
this  condition  he  offered  you  a  certain  lot  in  the  kuigdom 
of  heaven.  ConsKler  what  distress  this  will  bnng  on  those 
who  are  so  unwise  as  to  deny  going  with  him,  when  they 
shall  see  him  in  his  and  his  father's  glory,  with  tnose  hap» 
pv  souls  vvho  forsook  all  and  followed  him.-     Remember 
that  many  will  seek  him  after  he  is  gone,  but  they  will  not 
dnd  him,  for  altno'  he  is  a  God  o(  love,    yet  he  will  not 
wai'  forever.      For   the  future    I   pray  you  all,    that  it  it 
should  please  him  to  give  youanother   vis^itation,  to  re- 
ceive him   with  all  your  hearts    and  confess  to  hira  your 
faults  in  sendinghim  away  before— »oeg  his  pardon  m  true 
humiliation— he  may  torgive  you,  it  he  sees  that  you  are 
heartily  sorrow  for  ymir  past  condiK:!  towards  him,  and  o» 
eonditi'oa  that  you  will  forsake   all  other  delights,  it  May 
be  his  good  pleasure  to  guide    and   receive  you— become 
your  Saviour,    and  bring   you    to    the  enjoyment   ot  the 
happy  kingdom  of  God,  where  there  is  noihmg.  but  lo^e 
Sttid  peace. 


CHAPTER  IIL 

The  injustice  of  Slave  rif^ 

I  will  now  speak  of  another  evil,  which  ia  tlie  unfus^ 
practice  of  defrauding  mankind  of  their  j'.ist  rights  and 
best  riches  by  slavery*  ; 

But  who  will  believe  and  follow  me  out  of  soheathemsb 
aad  unjust  pr^aice^  by  wiiicfi  they  live  m  ia^&avy  en  ti-^e 


C    44    ; 

labour  of  the  poor  black  peupie,  who  are  only  allowed  a 
shaineful  and  scaiuy  portion  of  boia  food  and  raiment.-— 
Bv  atyrannical  yoke  these  poor  human  beings  are  deprived 
of  all  human  privileges,  even  from  receiving  any  support 
or  comfort  trom  ieeling  hearts,  grieved  at  the  sight  and 
hearing  of  their  miseries. 

1  am  astonished  when  I  think  on  my  past  life,  although 
God  is  full  of  love  and  mercy  ;  yet  when  I  look  back  I 
am  filled  with  wonder,  to  know  how  he  bore  with  and 
spared  me  in  days  past ;  for  1  was  once  as  many  thousands 
are  to  this  day.  VViien  I  went  into  this  great  evil,  1  fol- 
lowe^d  that  false  light  by  which  so  many  are  deceived,  be- 
lieving it  to  be  right  lO  do  the  worst-of  wrongs,  which  I 
did  in  robbing  my  fellow-creatures  of  the  best  jewel  man 
has  in  this  life.  I  was  led  into  it  by  the  wicked  Spirit  who 
rules  great ;  art  of  this  world,  for  if  1  had  not  followed  it, 

I  should  never  have    bought  any  of  my  fellow-creatures, 
to  keep  them  in  slavery  one  minute  UiUger    than  our  law- 
ful estaolished  time,  that  is  at  the  age  of  twenty  one  years, 
then  to  be  free  and   enjoy   their     own    freedom.      But  I 
bought  with  a  view  to  keepthemin  slavery  as  long  as  they 
lived  ;   I  had  forgot  the  great  commandment  of  my  God, 
and  began  to    eat   v^^ith  greadiness  the  forbidden  fruit,  as 
far  as    lay  in   my  power.     O !  wretched  man  that  I  was 
at  that  time,  to  be  so  deceived  by  that  unjust  spirit  which 
ruled  over  me,  as  it  does  over  so  many  thousands  to  this 
da)''.     At  that  tinie  I  was  a  professor  of  religion,  like  ma- 
fitr  o£  my  dear  fellow-creatures  are   at  this  time,  who  re- 
main   in  their  sins  as  I  d\d  then,  yet    they  profess  to  be 
the  righteous  followers  of  Christ,  and  so  did  I,  whilst  I 
was  defrauding  my  poor  black  brethren  by  keegingthtm 
in  slwerv  ;  ytia,  I  like  many  others  who  are  now  living, 

II  stilled  that  cruel  and  above  all  other  unjust  practice,    i 
went  to  meeting  called  worship,  I  sang  Psalms  and  Hymns 

. I  used    words  night  and   morning    on  ray  knees,  every 

•lav  of  the  week  in  my  family,  which  is  held  as  a  duty  j 
thise  words  were  called  prayers,  and  I  thought  it  was 
praying  to  God— each  time  1  went  to  my  table  I  used 
words  caUed^|.skiii^  a  l>lessing  of  the  Lord,  that  is  to  say, 
for  the  Lord'tbble^  v/h.vt  was  sac  before  us  to  eat,  which 
'^is  bauntifid  hand  had  provided  for  the  nourishment  of 
•lit*  bodi^s—ufter   eaiini^  i  ako   uttered    words,    called 


C     45     ) 

.thatil:sgivmg'  to  God  for  his  merciful  providence,  in  giv- 

'ill  g  us  such  good  things  to  satisfy  our  hungry  appetitts, 
by  which  our  mortal  bodies  are  refresht;d  a?.d  strtngiin  n- 
ed.     All  this  hud  a  very  great  show  ot  religion  ;  \ea,  I 

.  did  profess  to  know  ttje  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  whon[i  to  know 
is  eternal  life — this  was  only  in  v^ords,  but  in  works,  I 
denied  him,   and  worshiped  an  .mtichrist,  who    deceived 

.  and  made  me  to  be  as  unjust  as  the  Devil  couid  get  me  to 
he;  for  no  robber  canbcjiist  man.  neither  can  any  thief 

-*be   holy.      Ahhough  a   man  does  not  gc   himsell  and  rob 
•n  the  high-way,  nor  kill  and  take  another  man's  pioper- 
tv — even  if  he   does    not  go  himselt  wuh  the  thiei  to  rob 
his  neighbour,  yet   if  he  receives  the  goods  ol  the  thief, 
knowing  at  the  same  time  they  were  stolen  or  taken  away 
from  the  right   owner    by    violence,  will  not  that  man  be 
judged  as.  guilty   as  the  thief  ^  aitho'    he  pays  the   thief 
sonvesnntaU  price  for  them,    yet  it  will  not  make  him  the 
rightful  owner,  neither  will  his  purchase  make  him  guilt- 
less.    But  if  a  man  ignorant  of  the  theft,  was  to  purchase- 
stolen  goods  of  a  thief  and  they  be  found  in  his  possession; 
if  he  would  restore  them  to  the  owner    when    it  came  to 
his  knowledge,  he  would  obtain  some  favour  by  our  laws^ 
and  all  just  men  would  esteem  him  for  restoring   them  as 
soon  as  demanded  ;  but  on  the  contrary  if  he  refuse  to  re.» 
store  them  when  proved  and  demiinded,    would  our  laws 
justify  him  ?  I  think  not,  but  would  condemn  him  to  be 
as  guilty  as  the  first  thief.     Could  any  just    men  believe 
him  a  righteous  man,  or  a  follower  of  that  holy  one  wha 
iwme  down  fron>heaven,  to  save  men  from  all  such  ftvilS^ 
Men  areled  into  this  great  evil  by  that  deceiving  spirit 
Vho  gives  them  liberty  to  profess  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  the  ^-eligion    of  Jesus  Christ  ;    but  he  craftily  keeps 
them  from  possessing  v/hat  tl>ey  profess,  for  if  I  or  any 
other  man  were   to  profess  and  say  that  we  owned  all  the 
kingdoms  of  Europe,  would  our  saying  so  and  profess- 
ing it  make  it  our  own  ?   No  it  would  not,  for  our  chainry 
would  be  null  and  void  ;  so  it  will  be  with  all  who  p^-ofess 

-  to  have  religion,  but  do  not   possess  that  which    is  pure^. 

to  keep  them  from  being  spotted  with  injustice  or  the  un^ 

justified  fruits  of  the  flesh  ;  for  pure  religkm  is  only  ob» 

/tained  by  those  who  refuse  to  be  partakers  oi  the  evils  of 

this  world-^take  up  their  cross j  and  fgllow  thair,|ioly  spU 


(      4^      1 

r*t  which  teaches  them  to  deny  all  .ungodliness    and  the 
world*s  lust,  and  lead  them  into  a  holy  righteous  life.— . 
As  I  was  led  into  the  abominable   and  unjust  practice   of 
ieeping  my   poor  black  Brethren  in  slavery,  (which  was 
my  wicked   intent  to  do  as  long    as  they  lived)  by   a  sel- 
fish deceiver,  so  in  like  manner  I  was  led  out  of  this  ab- 
horable  robbery  J   I  call  it  robber)-,  and  that  of  the  worst 
sort  ;  for  if  a  man  is  robbed  of  his  goods  and  money,  and 
has  his  liberty  left,  he  may  by  care  and  industry  get  more 
goods  and  money  :   but  when  he  is  not  only  robbed  of  his 
goods  and  money,  but  of  his  liberty   and  sold  in  slavery 
for  life,  it  is  the    last  and  greatest   injustice  that    can    be- 
done  to  him — he  is  no  more  a  freeman,  but  bound  in  th?^ 
most  unjust  and  tyrannical  yoke  that  can  be  on  earth.   But 
as  I  said  before,  that  I  was  led  by  a   seli^sh  deceiver^  so 
I  was  led  out  and  redeemed   from    it  by  the  help  of  that 
true  friend  of  man,  called  Christ  the  Lord,  who  opened 
my  eyes  and  caused  me  to  see  my  sinful  station,  alter  all 
my  great  and  godly  professions. 

My  dear  children,  the  Lord  my  God  who  is  king  of  the 
holy  laud,  has  through  me  your  mortal  father,  kept  most 
•f  you  from  this  great  evil,  which  was  first  establised  and 
kept  up  to  this  day,  by  those  only  who  do  not  keep  God's 
commandments  ;  for  if  they  who  keep  black  people  in  the 
bond  of  slavery,  were  to  keep  without  breaking  only  one 
•f  God's  commandments,  they  would  immediately  destroy 
their  unjust  bouds  and  proclaim  liberty — they  would  be 
found  on  their  knees  begging  God's  merciful  forgiveness, 
for  all  the  wrongs  and  unmerciful  injuries  they  had  com- 
mitted in  not  observing  his  commandments.  Observe",  I 
have  only  mentioned  one  commandment,  and  as  God  has 
given  man)'',  vou  may  be  desirous  to  know  whieh  one  I 
mean — it  is  this :  the  Lord  said  in  this  particular  com- 
mandment, that  thou  shall  not  covet  any  thing  that  another 
is  the  owner  of;  no,  not  so  much  as  his  ox  or  his  ass, 
which  are  not  comparable  to  his  liberty.  If  all  the  negro 
holders  were  to  keep  this  commandment,  all  the  trafHck 
on  human  flesh  would  fall  to  the  ground  and  be  no  more  ; 
it  wo|dd  fall  like  greaf  Babylon,  v/hose  fi^ll  made  so  m  my 
stand  far  off  and  say,  alas  !  alas  !  and  weep  and  bewail  the 
loss  of  Babylon.  So  I  suppose  it  will  be  with  many  \yho 
feave  made  themselves  rich  by  that  shameful  trade  iaiu- 


(     47     ) 

man  flesh,  which  none  but  siriiicrs  could  carry  ©b,  for  «• 
riehto.Lis  man  ^vould  do  so  v'ickediy.  All  people  who 
breathe  the  breath  of  life  have'an  equal  right  to  ireedom, 
>  it  uas  given  to  them  by  their  maker— by  the  hiw  oi justice 
and  equity  ;  ai.d  to  prevent  men  from  breaking^ this  law, 
the  Lord 'has  forbidden  them  to  covet  any  thing  belonging 
to  another  ;  and  for  their  instruction,  that  they  might  know 
what  pleased  him,  he  hath  given  them  anoiher  command- 
ment by  his  onlv  Son,  Christ  the  Lord ;  which  is,  that 
they  should  do  to  all  others  in  every  thing,  as  they  would 
oihers  should  do  to  them.  I  take  the  liberty  to  ask  those 
who  are  in  the  habit  of  buying,  selling  or  keepmg  any  ot 
mv  black  brethren,  who  were  formed  by  the  same  hand  vrc 
all  were,  whether  they,  in  the  midst  of  their  great  proles- 
sion,  keep  this  commandment  or  not;  as  they  are  all  t« 
eive  an  account  at  a  future  day,  of  their  obedience  or  dis- 
obedience in  keeping  or  breaking  the  commandments  ot 
that  great  pjwer,  who  is  above  all  others  m  heaven  or 
c?rth,  unto  whom  every  knee  shall  bow  and  every  tongue 
shall  confess— I  say,  are  you  who  are  masters  or  mistres- 
ses,  (so  called  by  men  and  the  law  of  our  land)  wilhngt* 
have  your  station  changed— are  you  willing  that  the  ne- 
groes should  do  to  you  as  you  do  to  them  ?  Pause  a  httlc 
while,  and  let  truth  bear  witness. 

Do  I  not  hear  truth  say,  ''  all  have  fallen  short  ot  keep- 
ing  my  commandments,  and  some  have  scarcely  thought 
on  them— instead  of  obeying  me,  the  Lord,  who  made  aU 
men  and  placed  them  on  equal  ground  in  the  beginnins:, 
to  enjoy  the  iree  exercise  of  their  ownselves,  as  long  as  I 
saw  it  best  to  spare  and  continue  them  on  earth.  Yea, 
some  instead  of  doing  to  my  black  people,  whom  I  made 
and  created  by  my  own  wisdom,  according  to  my  own 
pleasuse,  for  mv  own  wise  ends,  (past  the  masters  and 
mistresses'  finding  out)  I,  that  am  in  authority  above  all, 
will  call  all  to  an  account;  truth  isxeady  to  bear  witness 
that  some  have  scarcely  thought  of  keeping  my  command- 
ments, for  instead  of' doing  to  the  black  people  as  they 
would  the  black  people  should  do  unto  them,  -if  the  scale 
of  the  times  was  changed,  th.  y  do  as  barbarously  ro  my 
bla.jk  people,  as  tho'  they  were  not  mine  and  in  w  .cm  I 
am  tbhe  glorified;  or  as  tho'  they  were  not  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  their  barbarous  usage  to  mV  people  whona  I> 


(48     ) 

trat^,  d'\:d  make  for  my  own  glor),  and  placedthem  in  wij 
own  land,  wherein  they  were  my  free  people  to  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  own  hand'a  iftbourl-in  my  own  land,  which 
I  gave  them  to  be  a  free  nation,  as  all  other  people  of  all 
other  nations  are  in  their  own  land  and  countries.  Bu't 
these  menvof  other  nations  who  were  breakers  of  my  com- 
mandments, were  to  me  as  highwayman,  or  as  thieves  and 
roobers,;  have  gone  over  my  great  ocean,  and  crossed  my 
great  seas  to  my  good  land.;  where  they  have  spread  their 
evils  to  accomplish  their  wicked  designs  amongst  my  peo- 
ple— they  have  robbed  and  fixed  robbers  by  corrupting 
the  rulers  that  were  over  my  people,  in  the  land  that  1 
gave  them  to  dw^ell  in,  and  have  caused  wars,  bloodshed  ' 
and  murders  to  take  my  people  to  make  merchandise  of 
them — to  sell  them  to  other  nations  which  iniquity  h&rd 
corrupted,  and  to  satisfy  their  own  lusts  have  bought  and  " 
put  them  under  the  yoke  of  the  most  abject  slavery, 
wherein  they  use  them  as  if  they  did  not  belong  to  me,  or 
as  if  they  were  not  created  and  made  by  my  holy  hand^ 
for  my  own  glory.  But  I,  the  Lord^  who  looked  dowa  ^ 
on  my  people  Israel,  in  the  days  of  Pharaoh  king  of  Egyp^ 
«nd  heard  their  groanings  under  the  oppressive  hand  of 
their  task-masters,  even  I,  will  look  down  in  my  owatime 
on  my  people,  who  are  used  as  if  they  were  not  mine  ;  I^ 
that  am  God  over  all  and  above  all,  will  look  down  and 
behold  the  affliction  of  my  people,  I  will  not  foiQct  their 
groanings  and  cries,  nor  the  bloo<l  that  has  trickled  down 
their  backs  as  watet,  to  satisfy  the  rage  of  unmerciful 
jnastcrs  a»d  tTTTstresses,  who  consume  the  labours  of  my 
black  people  on  their  wanton  lusts.  What  will  these 

masters  aad  mistresses  do,  when  I  call  them  to  give  me 
an  account  «f  their  unjust  dealings,  in  using  my  people  so 
barbarously  ?  I,  truth,  am  not  so  forgetful  as  to  forget 
the  least  of  their  evil  deeds,  tho'  they  are  committed  ever 
so  secretly;  neither  shall  I  want  a  witness  in  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  judgment,  for  I,  truth,  hath  placed  a  faithful 
and  true  witness  in  the  hearts  of  all  rren,  who  shall  arise 
and  bear  witness  for  me^  for  the  praise,  honor  and  glory 
©fall  that loved  me  and  kept  my  eumniandments  ;  anci  for 
the  condemnuiion  of  all  who  broke  my  commandments. 
Wh  X  will  these  masters  and  mistresses  say,  whejftferiy 
witness  riscth  in  judgment,  aiid  hnngs  to  light  uo^onJy. 


(      4J  .  ) 

'  J  open  barbarous  deeds  of  i%\Q  young  and  old  mnsters, 
a::d  of  the  young  and  old  mistresses,  who  have  adornJcl 
their  own  bodies  in  rich  and  guy  clothing,  and  lived  wan- 
tonly on  the  laboiir  of  my  people,  whilst  they  ut^re  op- 
pressed under  their  tyrannical  hands,  and  the  hands  of 
their  barbarous  overseers,  who  defiled  my  virgins  and 
forced  my  people's  wivesto  commit  adultery,  sowing  their 
wanton  seed  in  forbidden  ground,  whose  seed  shall  rise 
in  judgment,  and  caute  the  sower  to  be  condemned  to 
that  death,  which  is,  to  be  cast  into  that  la kfe  which  is  to 
burn  with  unquenchable  fire,  where  the  worm  eannot  die; 
for  the  old  and  young  masters,  and  the  old  and  young 
mistresses  have  been  wanton,  and  ma:ny  of  them  have 
been  defiled  in  making  use  of  the  forbidden  frtiit,  with;all 
the  other  evils  of  their  most  barbarous  hands,  m  !)earin^-, 
bruising  and  starving  m.y  people  of  l)oth  food  and  raiment 
— '^'hose^  open  and  secret  dtieds  my  witness  shall  brings 
to  light,  and  make  all  these  evil  doers  become  spc  s 

before  me,  like  him  that  came  to  the  marriage  and  l.ad  ul: 
si  v.-edding  garment  on.  All  those  who  have  thus  brokeii 
tny  commandmtnts,  in  not  doing  to  o.hers  as  they  requii- 
ed  others  to  do  to  them,  altho^  tbey  may  say.  Lord  open 
tUy  mercies  unto  us,  for  we  have  been  thy  worshipers^ — 
€v>ery  time  we  sat  down  to.eat  We  prayed  and  gave  thanks  v 
tfcese  must  be  reminded  of  that  scripture  which  says,  he 
that  shows  no-  mercy  is  to  have  judgrnent  without  mercy  ; 
and  will  be  answered  with  this  saving  ;  depart  from  me 
all  you  who  \vorked  iniquity  or  evil,  by  breaking  my  com- 
mandments in  not  doing  to  my  bhick  people  as  you  requir- 
edthem  to  do  to  you,  it  there  was  an  actual  overturn,  and 
the  masters  and  mistresses  were  placed  in  the  same  con- 
diti9n  of  slavery  they  have  fixed  them.  O  !  ve  white 
look  at  my  black  people,  and  consider  whether  they  are 
the  work  of  my  holy  hands,  and.  if  you  think  that  I,  the 
Lord,  made  them  as  well  as  you,  are  you  not  afi^iid  to 
use  them  as  you  do  ?  Look  at  their  garments — look  at 
their  lodgings — look  at  their  educ^.iiion— look  at  their  di- 
e^  and  consider  if  a  change  should  take  place,  would  you 
be  willing  to  be  treated  as  you  have  treated  theni '  When 
•'  ey  are  sickly  what  is  the  language  you  use  towards 
•m  I  How  would  \  ou  like  to  be  kept  from  the  company 


.     .    .     C    so    ) 

of  your  wives  in  sickness  or  in  health,  and  dare  not  go  t% 
see  them  without  leave,  and  if  you  asked  for  that  favour^ 
be  denied  for  a  week,  perhaps  a  month,  and  when  yoa 
got  liberty  to  go  you  should  happen  to  sleep  with  your 
beloved  wife  until  day  break,  and  the  distance  was  such 
as  to  keep  you  from  your  master's  work  until  the  sun  \vas 
up,  or  one  hour  high,  and  be  in  danger  ei  an  unmerciful 
whipping,  as  thousands  have  had.  1  hink  on  these  things  ; 
and  at  your  master's  pleasure  be  sold,  and  not  be  allow- 
ed the  liberty  to  bid  your  dear  wife  and  grieving  children 
farewell  ;  or  to  have  your  dear  wite  sold  where  you  would 
not  have  the  privilege  to  see  her  any  more — your  dear 
children  sold  and  carried  captive  to  serve  from  generation 
to  generation — to  be  used  in  the  same  afflicting  manner  you 
use  my  black  people  ^  and  for  what  ?  is  it  because  1  have 
for  my  own  pleasure  given  them  a  different  colour  from 
yours  ?  No,  it  is  not  altogether  for  their  colour's  sake, 
but  itis  because  you  have  through  injustice  got  the  ad^ 
vantage  of  the'in,  and  by  a  corrupt  practice  and  unjust' 
law,  you  hold  and  use  them  as  you  do.  My  people  were' 
free  in  the  station  v»'here  I  first  placed  them,  but  thieves 
and  robbers  and  those  who  break  my  commandments, 
have  brought  my  people  into  this  my  country^  Although 
j'^ou  masters,  claim  my  right  as  if  it  was  not  mine,  I  ne- 
ver gave  any  of  you  the  right  to  purchase  and  deprive  my 
j>eople  of  their  just  right,  of  freedom  ;  and  I,  justice,  do 
hereby  declare  that  1  never  did  nor  never  will  give  any 
man  privileg-e,  by  my  law  under  the  gospej-  dispensation, 
to  hold  any  of  my  people  in  abject  slaver)^  from  genera- 
tion to  generation  ;  although  it  has  been  done,  yet  I  do 
not  justify  but  condemn  it. 

Perhaps  mv  dear  children  and  fellow-creatures,  some 
of  you  may  want  to  know  my  reason,  for  concluding  that 
all  who  bu}  negroes  to  keep  or  to  sell  in  slavery  for  gain, 
to  be  as  men  who  buy  stolen  goods  of  a  thief,  or 
as  a  thief  buying  of  a  thief  ;  my  reason  is  this,  they  were 
.a  fr^e  people  in  their  own  country,  under  their  ov;n  go- 
vernment., and  under  the  providential  hand  of  the  great 
master,  even  ur.der  the  providence  of  the  great  God  of 
heav,en— they  never  sinned  against  his  lawful  and  just 
rigfit,  to  any  m^n  or  nation  that  we  can  find  in  all  the  re- 
ro'rds^.^his    gospcL     But  coveting  nations  who  wnntJid 


f      51      ) 

t^  live  rich  and  great  on  the  labours  of  others,    without 
making  full  compensation    to    the  poor    labourers,    have 
gone  as  a    thief,  kidnapped  and   hired   kidnappers  at  the 
expence  of  much  blood,  they  have  brought  Africans  here 
and  sold  them  to   our  Americans,  as    a  horse  thief  stlls 
the  horse    or  mare   he  has  stolen.     But  some  Americans 
have  bought    without   considering     who    was    the  right 
owner,  and  the  thief  has  pjot  his  pay  and  gone  his  way  ; 
if  even  the  purchaser  was  ignorant  of  the  theft  at  the  time 
of  the    purchase,    does    his  ignorance  make    that  stolen 
horse  or  mare,  or    any  other  stolen   thing,  to  be    a  good 
and  lawful  right  to  him  after   the  first,    just  and  lawful 
owner  finds  the  stolen   property  in  this  ignorant  purcha- 
ser's hands  I  I  say  does  his  ignorance  make  void  the  first 
owner's  right,  although  this    stolen  prop -rty  might  have 
been  conveyed  through   twenty  diiTerent    bands  ?    Thou 
must  answer  that  the  first  owner  who  had  his  propeny  ta- 
ken from  him,    if  he  ever  found    it^and  could  P^|||[|iMi| 
property,  would  still   have  his  right  reptored  to  nw^By^ 
©ur  laws,  and  all  other  just  laws,  with  all  the  increase  of 
those  stolen  things.  This  is  just  the  case  with  the  negroes 
and  their  present  masters,    for  aliho'  the  law  of  our  cor- 
rupt people  gives  the  present  masters  power    to  hold  the 
negro(is  in    slavery,  yet  it  does   not  make  void  the   fir«t 
owner's  right,  v/hich  was  confirTied  to  him  as  a  gracious 
gift  of  God,  and  whose  name  is  Just  Freedom  to  all  man- 
kind :  it  is  sealed  to  him  by  the  ijreat  seal  of  God's  '.'ustice 
to  all  men,  and   all  who  break    this  seal, break  the  law  of 
God,  unto  whom  the  transgressors    must  give  an  account. 
To  prevent  m.en  from  breaking  his  law,  God  first^for- 
bids  them  to  covet  any  thing  that  belongs  to  other   men  ; 
second!}',  he  gives  orders  for  all  men  to  do  to  others  as 
they  would  have  others  do  to  them.     vV'hoofall  the  slave- 
holders keeps  these  two  commandments    of  God-without 
..Dreaking  them  ?   What  did  our  Americans  fight  for,  and 
shed  so  much  of  their  own  and  of  the  British  blood  r  Were 
the  English  going  to    sell  all  the  white  inhabitants  to  the 
negroes,  and  if  they    were  going  to  do   so,    how   much 
worse  a  crime  would  it  have  been,  than  for  the  Araericann 
to  go  to  Africa   to  steal,  buy,  or  kidnap  that  people  and 
deprive    them  of  the  liberty  they  had  in  their  own  coun- 
.tcy,  and  bring  and  sell  them  to  be  slaves  for^ver^  to  those 


(      52      )  f 

who  are  oftexias  i.ilramane  in  their  deeds  as  their  negroes  * 
would  be  to  us,  if  the  scale  of  things  was  changed  ;  and 
we  do  not  know  how.  soon  it  may,  for  the  wickedness  of 
our  land  is  great,  and  we  do  not  know  in  what  way  Gc  I 
miv  suffer  it  to  come  aboutto  re  vard  it.  Bat  let  us  turn  t 
:\v  of  justice  which  God  has  given  to  all  men,  as 
just'ruie  for  them  to  walk  in  and  live  by  j  no  man  hath  a 
rig-ht  to  break  this  good  law,  which  secures  to  every  man 
his  ov/n  freedom  ;  but  any  man  depriving  another  by  force 
or  craft  or  by  any  other  unjust  means  of  his  freedom,  is 
as  a  thief  or  robljer,  and  all  who  buy  in  knowledge  are 
equally  guilty.  But  if  any  man  despises  his  freedom,  and" 
by  mi-sdemeanor  forfeits  it,  and  for  his  bad  conduct^is 
sold  for'^atime,  according  to  his  transgression,  such  pur- 
chasers may  be  justified  in  holding  him  or  her  in  bondage, 
as  long  as  the  time  of  his  or  her  trhnsgression  required 
it,  .^iL^ondition^that  they  use  the  bound  person  in  a  hu- 
TrTntv.v^^^iy  J  [>Qt  when  the  time  of  the  bond  is  expired,  to 
It  I  .v.;!  a  one  free,  that  he  or  she  may  enjoy  liberty  again, 
By  doing  thus,  the  jubilee  would  be  knov/n  and  under- 
stood in  our  country  ;  but  accordinj^to  the  present  prac- 
tice amongst  slave  holders,  there  is  no  jubilee  observed 
in  any  part  of  our  country.  Further,  the  negpoes  were 
free  in  their  own  country,^  but^for  lucre's  sake  those  who 
l>roaght  and  sold  them  here  for  slaves,  w-ere  as  thieves 
rnd  robbers  ;  and  all  who  purchase  such  ufijust  merchan- 
dise, are  encr  u  '."ging  he  practice  of  stealing  men,  women 
and  children,  which  is  a  large  degree  worse  than  to  en- 
courage horse  stealing,  by  buying  tlieir  thieving  plunder 
-^it  is  the  purchasers  who  keep  such  wicked  thefts  up, 
for  if  no  men  were  to  purchase  without  positively  know- 
ing the  property  to  be  good  and  lawful,  all  such  wicked 
trade  would  be  at  an  end.  Therefore  all  the  negro  blood 
wlilch  has  been  shed  in  Africa,  to  take  the  poor  negroeg 
prisoner  tp  sell  to  this  country^  must  rise  in  judgment 
against  all  who  had  any  hand  in  that  inhumane  trade,  and 
all  buyers  as  well  as  sellers  have  their  parts  in  it. 

Who  -cpuld  have  thought — who  could  have  believed 
that  professors  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  could  ever  have 
been  brought  to  be  partakers  of  such  an  inhumane  prac- 
tice, as  to  sell  their  poor  helpless  fellow-creatures  and 
their  cliUdren^^as^oien  seii  horses  aud  cattle*     These  pooi 


,   .  (     50     ) 

captivated  bracks  are  sold  fro.n  gentjration  to  generation, 
as  rf  they  were  not  beuigs  beloaglng  to  the  human  fiiiiii- 
Jy,  or  as  if  God  who  is  only  just,  would  justify  such  in- 
humane practice  ;  but  he  never  wili.  Is  it  possible  that 
there  can  be  any  greater  robbery  on  earth  then  to  take  a 
man's  freedom  or  liberty,  without  his  cor^ent  or  forfei-  ' 
ture,  yet  the  ^ioor  negro\  liberty  is  taken  ajvay  before  he 
is  born,  and  whilst  in  his  mother's  womb,  where  it  is  inj- 
'possible  for  him  to  break  any  law  of  forfeiture,  or  give  his 
jnsent  that  his  freedom  should  be  taken  away. 
God,  for  his  justice's  sake,  has  j^iven  the  real  owner 
of  freedom  privilege  to  travel  throi-gh  the  land  of  Ame- 
ric^a,  to  see  if  he  could  find  what  h^had  ao  long  lost  ;  his 
name  is  Just  Freedom,  and  to  my  knowledge  he  has  beert 

.seeking  for  his  lost  jev/el    more' ^lan  thirty  years  ;  axid 

God   has  given  him  liberty  if  he  ;Could  find  this  p-  '        " 

^.•.veJ,  to  dtmandit  where3oeve4he  findsit.     It  is   mere 

than  thirty  years  since  I  saw  jus/  freedom  in  the  State  of 

.Delaware,  Kent  County,  wherdl  lived  at  that  time-   it 

was  there  where  he  first  came  afd  made  his  first  dcrat^Jids 

^i  me,^  for  I    had  purchased  t^p  black  people  in  tlie  day 

M  my  ignorance^and  when  Ibf  ughtrthem  I  did  not  know 

,  tiiat  just  freedom  had  any  claii  to  tliem  ;  at  that  time  I 
was  ike  niany  others,  who  llWlieve  have  boui>-ht  with- 
out  knpwmg  them  to  b^  :stol\ti  property  ;  so  1  bouoht 
.and  gave  my  money,  which  ha^  cost  meinany  a  drop  of 
sweat,  and  he  that  soid  them  t^  me  got  it  like' a  thief  and 
wenrms  way.  But  when  just  i  eedom  came  to  me,  and 
and  what  he  liad  lost  m   my  Ws  ,  he    made  his  first 


uemand    m  tne  iy  of  raercy~*fe   reasoned  and   clearly  • 
convincea  me  of hisjust  and  lawVlclaiLn-i  believed  tha^ 
-,  ngnt  was  ;of  me  Lord  j  but  a  },e  made  no  rash  threar- 
nrngs  unless  I  give   them  up  on|*e  spot,  I   tried  to  p^  ' 
h.m  ofrannl  I  e,uid  be  made  wh|..  dthe  money  ivid 

..paid  for  tnem,  hy  keeping  the™  a^ljired  hands  for' s/(  ma- 
ny years  as  wouid  pay  rae.  Th^  I  ,ook  such  unipst 
means  to   §.et  m|  money  back,  by  intinuing  the  unjast 

..practice  o,  defravimg  them  uniil  j  should  raake  myself 
fia.e.  Looi  ,n  tilis,  and  it  may  prWe  as  a  glass  wherein 
|^ou_  may  see  »'he;her  you  do  justly  <{,■  unjust?y  to  all  men  ; 
VI  here  I  rested  n   the  state  of  ipju«ice  f«r  a  time,  with 


E  2 


(  **  ) 

a.  determination  to  com ply^ with  what  I  had  promised  , 
and  it  being  a  d:iy  of  mcc^y  with  just  freedom^ he  left  me 
under  nw  mistaken  notion  of  its  beiing  right  and  jnsl,  to 
keep  these  podr  helpless  negroes  in' -slavery,  until  they 
would  have  earned  as  much  as  they  cost  me,  allowing 
them  '.vages  as  hirelings  from  the  tune  that  I  tgn<K*antly 
g-ave  my  moiiey  to  the  ur\just  seller.  Look  at  this,  my 
dear  feiiow-creatures  who  have  had  the  same; misfortune 
to  buy  su;h  unlav/ful  property  as  I  had  done.  O  !  how 
I  v/as  deceived,  '^fter  all  my  prayers,  and  my  preaching, 
v.'berein  I  had  told  my  fellow-creatures  that  they  must  be 
li-st  or  they  could  npte/Jttrthe  kingdom  of  heaven,  and 
that  they  must  do  ta  all  men  as  they  vrould  that  others 
should  5oto  them  ;  A'ords  were  app^uendy  good,  but 

"vvhere  was  my  ex^uixxc,  which  speaks  much  louder  than 
arv  -^^ther  trumpet  on  earth  ;  for  if  I:saiy  that  I  am  righ- 
t  at-tKe  sami  time  liveJn  wickedness,  will  it  not 

1;  r  prove  me  a  li^r.  ?     But  so  I  continued  until  just  . 

f.cc  i.-.a  came  again,  ijid  overtook  me  m  a  very  solemn 
time  as  I  wa>  feturnins^  from  meetiag  ;  he  dealed  very 
craftily  with  me,  like  %than  the  pi^pbet  did  with  Da- 
vid, who  pis<^ed  s^ntente  against^  hi. uself  ;  ikuow  not 
v/nether  he  ever  did  take,such  a  tun  or*  any  other  person 
r.s  he  did  on  me  ;  he  begiva  thus  :--Sup]j)ose  a  man  would 
steel  my  horse,  carry  hrn  away  and  sell  him,  when  I 
missed'the  hor^e  would  Imot  seek  him?  I  answered  that 
I  would  ;  he  then  said,  supoose  th  it  I  f^und  h:m  with  the 
man  who  had  bought, Hpa,  although  ha  was  ignorant  of / 
the  theft,  would  I  not; ask  him  ho'vV  he  came  by  my  • 
horse  ?  yea<  tHats«-'nni  to  be  certain— fthen  perhnps  the 
man  would  tell  iiie  tha|  ^  hou ^^ht  the  ho|se  ofsuchaman, 
had  pal  i  him  and  ^i^skpni^,  would  I  not^tel!  the  man  that 
the  horse  was  mine,  /nd  that  the  man  le  had  bought  of 
Kad^t^lea  tht  horse  ff^m  me-— that  i  had  come  for  my 
ho^^e— a.vd  n-  i  vr^t  n  i^:  'i -v-  ;  bu  perhaps  the  ma-a 
V70  x\4sav  that  it  w.i^/^ard  iyv  hi  n  to  give  up  the  horse, 
for  by  ?rivlag  bin  u;>lie  wo  aid  lose  hi-^  manev,  (the  man 
of  who'n  ,h«  boaght  'islng  g^ne)  a<\d  co  il<l  not  get  it  back 
if /he  gave  the  hors-^tio  ;  b  it  it  last  I  Iclearlv  convince 
the  .nan  th\t  tie  h  )»^.  is  nil -,  >.nd  tinrjthe  man  of  whom> 
hi?  biu  rit  h  id  no  ri-iV.  t^  s  lid  h^rse.   jNow  v/as  the  layr.v 


(      55      ) 

keep  mc  ont  of  my  horse,  .:     .  h-   '-a.  rlenrl^.  convinced 
that  I  was  tKe  real  ow:,r,  .-       '    •  ..tomm.to- 

be  in  ignorance  of  the  there—  u.   trier.    ;;  u  cuecase  close 
•lo  me,  whether  saca  a    maa  coukI  bejusi  m  keepiag  my 
horse  for  his  money's  sake  :    1  was  obi.,j;ed  to  uns^ver  no,, 
that  he  could  not  be  a  just  man,  aitho   ni^  ■    ■'i'^  ^aiia 

allowed  him  to  do  so,  that  he  might  be  muUe  s  lie  tor  tne 
nionevhehad  paid  for  said  horse.      IhenjUst    fre.ao.n. 
defied  with  me  like  the   prophet   Nathan   did   with  king 
David,,  who  passed  sentence  against  mmseli ;  he  said  taat 
I  was  the  man-the  unjust    man  to   whom  the  Iwot  tae 
land  R-ave  power  to  keep  just  freedom  out  of  his  no  at,  tor 
my  inonev's.sake.     This  was  very  alarming  to  me,  know-^ 
i  thaiti  had  often  pubhcly  said,    that  all    men  should 
walk  in    the  strict  path    of  justice,  and    condemned  ad 
who  walked  in  the  path  of  injustice;  and  now  alter  all  my 
-preaching  to  others,    and   telling  them    that  they  must 
■\k  in  the  path  of  justice  if  they  wished  to  go  to  heaven, 
-ul  those  who   walked  in  the    path  of  injustice^were  tra- 
velling towards  hell,  to  find  myself  in  a  state^  of  injustice 
in  keeping  just  freedom  out  of  his  right  ior  ^^Y  "^^ney  s 
sake,   klarmed  me  much,  as  the  negroes  I  haa  bought  had 
earned  but  a    small  part  of    the  money  I    had  given   for 
-them.  Bat  now  cam^  the  trying  time  to,  me  to  make  man- 
'ifest  my  obedience  and   love    to  God,    for    the  patns    ot 
..Justice  and  injustice  were  i)oth  laid  open  before  me,  to- 
gether with  the  laws  of  our  land  and  of  grace,  to  enable 
<^e  to  make    the  choice  either  of  the  just  or  unjust  path, 
'  HI  setting    the  negroes  free  immediately,  or  keeping  them 
?n  bondage  auv  longer.     To  keep  me  in  the  path  ol  mjus^ 
'ice  the  deceiver  raised  all  his  power  against  jxist  freedom, 
and  immediately    persuaded  me  to  keep   the   negroes  m 
mv  service  until  the  following  Christmas,  which  was  be» 
tween  four  or  live  months,  that  my  business  would  then 
better  admit  of  their   being  sat  free.     Just   freedoni  ae- 
manded  that  his  just  right  should  be  given  np  to  hjm  on 
the  spot,  and  without  delav  ;  telling  me  at  the  same  time 
that  the  just  should  enter  the  kingdom  of  he^u-en,  but  the 
uni ust  should  not— that  life  was  uncertain,  &c.      Vv^he^n 
^he   deceiver  found  that  T  wanted  to  walk    in  tae  patn  x^'. 
justice,  he  gave  up   so  long  a  time   asv€hnstmas, .  and; 
pU^d  wifehme  only.tokcep  therrtpae-w^ek*.  Xvist  ireedoBii 


(     56     )  I 

sounded  the  alarming  trumpet  of  God  and  said,  that  the  ' 
unjust  should  not  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;    after  all  '■ 
the  truths  of  justice  the  deceiver  made  one  more  trial  to 
keep  me  under  his  power— to  keep  me   from  obeying  the 
commandments  of  God,  in  doing  to  all  others  as  I  would 
have  others  do  to  me— the  deceiver  told  me  that  if  1  gave 

them  up  at  that  instant  I  should  break  my  promise thut 

I    should  be  a  liar,  and  that  no  liars  could  enter  the  king- 
dom of  God~->that  if  I  only   would  keep  them   one  week 
longer,  i  could  make  my  promise  good  ;     for  1  had  pro- 
mised one  of   my  neighbours  that  the  negro' man  should 
go  th©  foUov,  ing  week,    to  help    him  to  boil  salt— that  I 
m^idc^d  tbe    salt    which  I  was   to   be  paid  for   his  week's 
wor^c,      i  >  It  the  trumj^t  sounded  so  loud  from  God,  that 
it  broke  the  DcviVs  power,  and  he  left  me  and  just  free- 
dom  "to  setde  ihe  dispute  between  ourselves.     After  that 
selfish   Devil  was  gone,  who  had  deceived   me   so  long, 
^^:Ki  kept  me  walking  in  the  path  of  injustice,  whilst  I  had  ' 
been  telimgotbers  that  they  must  do  justly  ;  thus  he  ha- 
made  me  like  the  hypocrite   who  had  a  beam  in  his  eye. 
and  was  saying  to  his  brother,  let  me  pull  the  m.ote  out  of 
your  eye.     So   after  he  was   gone,  I   g<'ave  my  word  in 
truth  to  just  freedom,  that  I  would  give  up  al;  my  riQ-l- 
to  him  as  soon  as  I  got  home — by  setting  the   negro  nia- 
and  the   negro  woman   fr&ey  which  1  had  called  my  rjo-ht 
and   property  all  the  time  they  had  lived   with   me  until 
then.  ^  However,  I   dreaded    very  much  a   further  trial, 
.when  it  v/ould  come  to  the  knowledge  of  my  beloved  wife] 
for  I   knew    it   would  take  her  unawares," and    what  the 
consequences  would  be,  I  did  net  know  ;   But  God  bfolp- 
.cd  me  to  stand  to  my  word  and  promise.  I'he  next  m  >rn- 
ing  I  went  for  Negrora,  (as  I  called  him)  and  desired  my 
neighbour  tosead  him  home  that  evening,  but  he  did  not 
some  until  next  morning;   I  then   immediately  gave  the 
negro  man  and  negro  v/oman  a  full  discharge  'in  writing, 
for  them  ti)  be  free  from  me,  my  heirs,  and'^all  person  or 
persons  vvhatsoev^r — 1  delivered  them  up  to  just  freedom 
the  right   owner— alter  this   I    hired  them    both   for  one 
mon4:h,  rind  paid  them  the    same  price  that  I  could  have 
hired  other  hands.     Thus   I  made  my    promise    good  tc 
tny  neighSour,'a3  tothe  negro  man  working  for  him  the 
ibik)waBg  w^t-^.     When  tiie  Cod  of  heaven  saw  mv  ohe^ 


(      57     ) 

dience  to  justice,  it  pleased  him  to  restore  me  to  his  love, 
peace  and  favour,  which  was  of  more  value  to  me  thaii 
'  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousands  of  the  best  pegl^o    slaves 
^  on  earth  ;  for  i    would    not  have   given  in  exchange  the 
^  love,  peace  and  fiivour  of 'the  God    of  heaven— no,    not 
'  for  all  the  negroes  on  earth,  and  all  the  money  and  other 
riches  in  this  world  besides  for  which  I  am  truly  thankful 
,t6  the  Lord  my  God,  for  his  mercies  to  me  in  breaking 
.jthe  yoke  of  injustice  off  my  neck,  whi'ch  I;  (being  deceiv- 
''cd)  had  worn  from  the  time     I  had  bought  those  captive 
1  negroes,  to  the,  time  that  the  Lord  freed  them  from  un- 
der my  oppressive  hand. 

I  ask  you  all  who  are  m  the  same  state  I  was  in,  either 
!iorantly  or  knowingly,  and  who  still  keep  negroes  in 
bondage,  whether  you  know  or  believe,  that  freedom  is  the 
.,  negro's  just  right  ?  for  all  who  keep  them  are  in  one  state 
or  the  other  ;  but  I  believe  that  the  greatest  part  of  you 
iHtnow  that  it  is  their  ji^t  right,, unless  there  become  who 
have  forfeited  this  right  by  some  misdemeapor  or  crime. 
I  would  also  ask  those  who  still  keep  these  poor  captivated 
creatures,  who  were  free  in  their  own  country  before  the 
whita  thieves  went  there,  where  God  had  placed  them,  & 
where  the  necessaries  of  life  are  to  be  had  in  greater  a- 
bundance  than  in  our  country,  and  without  so  much  labour; 
I  say,  I  will  ask  them  if  they  were  kidnapped  by  our  own 
people,  or  by  any  other  power,  who  by  their  craft.and  sub- 
iility  could  come  to  America's  shores,  and  prevail  to  cor- 
rupt our  states  so  far  as  to  set  each  other  at  war  one  a* 
gainst  another,  in  order  to  take  prisoners  ;  and  to  kidnap 
all  they  could  get  themselves  by  craft  on  board  their  ves- 
sels ;  likewise  to  buy  for  a. small  price  all  the  poor  pri- 
soners, who  the  blodxl-shedding  warriors  had  taken,  being 
the  strongest  and  craftiest  party  ;  and  after  they  had  got 
a  load  of  us,  were  to  hoist  sail  and  carry  all  they  had  thus 
Icidnapped  and  bought  from  those  robbing^ murderers,  who 
had  shed  so  much  blood  to  catch  the  poof  father  and  part 
him  from  his  wife  and  children,  or  the  wife  from  her 
husband,  and  the  chddren  from  their  grieving  and  hearts 
broken  parents,  who  had  happened  to  escape  those  bloody 
thieves  and  robbers,  and  were  to  carry  us  to  Algiers  or 
some  other  barbarian  power — 'there  sell  us  to  the  highest 
liidder,  without  regarding,  whether  the  purchaser  was  a 


C     5ft     ) 

good  man  or  a  barbarian ;  if  this  was  the  lot  of  all  men  and 
women   who   justify  themselves    in   keeping  these  poor 
Africans  in  their  daily  service,   where  many  are  used    as 
bad  as  the  Algerines  would  use  us  Americans.     I  ask  all 
masters  and  mistresses  if  it  was  their  lot  thus  to  be  taken 
and  sold  to  the  Algerines,  not  only  for  their  own  life,  but 
from  generation  to  generation,  as  they  do  the  poor  negroes, 
whether  they  would  justify  the  Algerines  in  the  inhuman 
trade  of  buying  and  selling  us,    who  were    kidnapped   or 
taken  prisoners   by  bloody  warriors,  and  sold  by  them  for 
a  small  price  ?     Would  you  not  all  say  that  it  was  very 
wrong — that  you  were  a  free  people  before  that  miserable 
misfortune  befel  you,  by  the  act  of  those  wicked  thieves 
and  blood-shedding  robbers,  who  had  not  only  taken  from 
you  every  thing  you  possessed,    but  robbed  you  of  liberty 
also,  to  sell  you  for  life  to  those  who  would  give  the  most 
for  you,  and  thus  put  you    free  Americans  in  thenegio's 
situation,    and  be  dealed  with  as  you  deal  with  them  ? — 
How  wouM  you  feel  if  this  was  to  take  place  ?    (and  it  is 
not  impossible  that  it  raay.^       Would  vou  not  say  that  it 
wasan  unjust  thing  for  men  to  rob,  steal  and  deprive  neigh- 
bours of  their  property,  and  that  all  who  got  their  living 
in  this  way  were  not  fit  to  live  on  earth  ?     If  such  robbers 
were  only  to  take   our  horses,    cattle,  money  and  all  our 
other  property,   and  leave   us  the  rich  jewel  of  freedom, 
would  we  not  condemn  them  to  die  ?  and  if  we  condemn 
them  to  die  who  took  all  from_us  but  our  freedom  ;  I  say, 
what  would  you  masters  and  mistresses  condemn  them  to, 
who  took  from  you  not  only  all  you  possessed  in  this  world, 
but  your  liberty    also,    and    sold   you   to  as  barbarian  a 
master  as  some  of  you  are  ?       You  would  not  condemn 
them  onU'  as  being  unfit  to  live  on  earth,  but  if  it  was  ir^ 
"  your  power  you  would  condemn  them  to  hell,  and  would 
put  them  there  it  it  laid  in  your  power?  Are  the  negroes 
without  feeling — are  they  void  of  all  sense  of  freedom?— 
they  are  obliged  to   conceal  their  sentiments — they   dare 
not  speak  in  their  own  behalf — they  dare  not  plead  their 
own  suffering  cause — the  law  is  vanished  from  them  in 
all  points  oftheir  defence,  but  it  stands  ready  to  punish  and 
afflict  them,  for  the  least  word  or  deed  they  may  speak  or 
do  contrary   to  the  will  and  pleasure  of  their  oppressive 
■masters  and  mistresses.     O  you  who  justify  the  unjust  ia 


(     S9     ) 

their  unjust  dealings  with  the  blacks,  if  the  scale  should 
be  turned  over  and  you  be  fixed  in  the  negro's  situation, 
would  you  think  theii  as  you  do  now  ?  (if  your  thoughts 
are  as  your  words,  for  you  say  they  ought  to  be  slaves.) 
Consider  w^ll  on  this  before  it  is  too  late,  for  v/e  knovr 
not  what  sudden  changes  may  be  brought  about  in  this 
world.  But  you  masters  and  mistresses  may  look  at  all 
these  things  as  impossible,  you  cannot  believe  that  you 
can  be  taken  from  your  masterly  post  and  the  negroes  put 
therein.     Remember  that  almost  every  thing  in  this  world 

.  has  to  undergo  its  different  changes,  even  great  kings  sit- 
ting on  earthly  thrones,  have  often  experienced  a  wonder- 
ful change — look  at  St.  Domingo — think  on  the  great 
^juantit}' of  blood  shed  to  gain  American  liberty — -all  this 
was  done  to  break  the  yoke  of  European  tithes  and  taxa- 
tion, for  rather  than  Europe  should  have  the  right  to  in- 
crease our  burden  by  ta>fation,  America  chose  the  field  of 
battle,  before  she  would  wear  any  longer  the  yoke  of  sub- 
mission. You  all  knowthertt  fs  a  great  difference  between 
the  yoke  of  tarnation,  and  the  yoke  of  absolute  slavery, 
which  Great  Britain  never  thought  ofpiitting  on  our  necks; 
nor  do  I  believe  that  the  Americans  had  any  apprehen- 
sions of  Britain's  taking  our  all  from  us,  and  then  take  us 
to  some  other  country  and  sell  us  for  slaves  as  the  negroes 
are  sold  to  the  'Americans,  who  are  «o  eager  to  buy  them, 
as  tho'  they  had  n  right  to  h  imanity,  or  to  the  just  law  of 
God.       Do  the  Americans  think   80  much  of  so  smcdl  a 

:  part  of  freedom  as  thatJbr  which  they  fought,  and  shed  s« 
much  of  their  own  and  of  British  blood,  and  at  the  same 
time  justify  and  uphold  the  greatest  of  all  slavery  that  caa 
be  on  earth,  by  depriving  many  of  all  freedom,  and  selling 
them  for  life — even  from  generation  to  generation. 

Let  us  look  a  little  more  at  the  aiflictions  of  the  poor 
Africans,  who  were  free  in  their  own  country — living 
under  their  own  laws,  btfore  that  wicked  trade  took  place 
t)etween  the  corrupted  ruitrs  of  that  cmmtry,  and  the  Eu- 
ropeans'and  Americans,  who  went  there  and  caused  them 
to  lose  all  and  cverv  ihing  "neir  and  dear  to  them  ;  being 
tora  away  from  all  their  near  connexions — the  husbands 
from  their  beloved  wives — t!ie  wives  from  thrir  beloved 
Husbands,  and  ohiidren  from  their  beloved  par-nits,  never 
ii&  see  them  again.     Tixis  is  not  all,  but  their  last  and  best 


(     60     ) 

riches   are  taken  aw ay-^the    rich  jewel  of  freedom,    4o 
which   they  had   as  just  a   right  as  any  people  under  the 
heavens.     This  has  all  been  done  to  them,  and  by  who  ^ 
Why,  by  those  who  profess  to  be  christians.     After  these 
poor  negroes  have  lost  every  thing,  they  are  sold  for  life, 
and  many  put  under  wicked  overseers — thiiik  on  this  yc 
masters  and   mistresses — think    if  the  scale  was  turned, 
how  you  would  like   to  be  dealed  vyith   as  you  deal  with 
them  who  are  ucder  you— would  you  thlDJi  it  was  right 
and  just  for  your  masters    to  use  you  so-r— would  you  not 
think  that  you  ought  to  have  a  right  to  freedom,  although 
ycu  had.been  sold  through  twenty  different  hands,  would 
that  make  your  right  to  freedom  void   and  null  ?       You 
must  own  that  it  would  not,  as  you  were  all  free  befoie 
this  unjust  misfortune  befel  you,    like  it  has  the  negroes 
you  hold  in  slavery  as  your  own  ;  but  God  will  in  his  own 
time  plead  their  cause,  and  show  to  whom  they  belong. 
Suppose  your  masters  and  mistresses  were  to  make  pro- 
fession  of  religion,  as   some  of  you  do,  what  would  you 
think  of  their  religion  ?-*-altho' <hy  master  was  to  preachy 
prav  and  sifig,  and   go  through  all  religious    ceremonies 
that  some  of  you  seem  to  do  ;     I  say,    what  would  yoii" 
think  of  their  religion  ? — or  what  would  think  of  all  those 
who  justified  your  masters  in  doing  to  j^u  as  you  do  to; 
those,    who   ought  to  be  objects  of  p!tT,'^nstead  of  being 
used  as  they  are  ?     Do  not  slightly  look  over  your  secret 
and  open  deeds,  wherein  you  have  behaved  like  barbarians 
to  those  poor  helpless  blacks  under  your  power,    for  God 
will  sooneror  later  v^eigh  all  in  the  just  scale  of  his  righte- 
ousness, and  will  bring  all  your  deeds  to  light.     I  say,  do 
no  look  -over  your  barbarous  imd  unjust  deeds  too  sligthly; 
but  I  pray  you  all   who  are  mastess   and     mispresses,  to 
begin  to  weigh  and  look  over  the  sinful  deeds  you  have 
done  to  those  poor  helpless  blacks,    before   the  Lord  be- 
gins ;  for  when  he  begins  there  will  be  no  respect  of  per- 
sons with  him,   who  is  the  Lord  over  all.  But  again, 
would  it  not  hurt  your  feelings  to  hear  your  master  and 
his  neiR:hbour  s.iy,  that  you-.. ere  betteroffthan  they  were, 
though  it   migh|:  be  true  ip  one  sense,    that^you  might  be 
better    off  than   your  eruet  oppressive  masters  and  mis- 
tresses,   for  their  wickedness  had  put  thera  further  from 
God's  love  and  favour  than  the  slaves  were,  who  had  h^Qn  j 


.      f      61      ) 

deprived  of  their  all,  and  ot  iheir  liberty  a1s# — v.Ktw  y^u 
V:Ould  hear  them  say  that  the  holy  C^od  of  heaven  had  or- 
dered it  to  be  so — that  you  should  be  made  slaves,  and 
that  IVcm  generaticn  to  generation — that  it  would  not  d6 
to  set  you  Tree--vvhen  you  v  ould  see  all  the  devil'sscare- 
ero^^  s  hung  up,  which  are  now  made  use  ol  in  argument 
ky  many  people,  to  prevent  your  freedom,  andtokeepyou 
still  in  slavery,  as  the  poor  helpless  negroes  i-re  now;  I 
sav,  how  would  you  leel  ?  for  the  devil  has  told  the  people 
«f  America  that  if  the  black  people  were  set  tree,  they 
would  rise  and  kill  the  white* people,  or  else  the  white  peo- 
ple must  kill  thern — that  the  blacks  would  rob  and  steal, 
and  would  not  work  to  get  their  living  any  other  way, far 
whigh  they  must  all  be  hung — that  there  would  be  no  suck 
R  thing  as'  living  in  this  country  if  the  negroes  were  set 
free.  A  g'reat  scare-crow  indeed]  as  il  the  masters  and 
owners  of  negroes  had  mOre;  power  to  preserve  cur  coun- 
try from  its  present  danger,  by  the  aggravating  aud  cruel 
crimes  committed  by  them  and  their  no  less  cruel 
overseers.  I  say,   as  if  these  cruel    whipeers  and 

starvers  had  more  power  to  keep  us  from  our  impending 
danger,  which  may  at  some  future  day  break  Urth  as  a 
fire  which  cannot  be  stopped  until  it  gets  tc  the  ead  of  its 
ravages- — as  if  t^^y  had  more  power  to  preserve  than  our 
government ;  wnb,  if  they  could  feel  the  anguish  and  mi* 
sery  of  the  black  people,  (who  by  the  by  are  human  be- 
ings as  well  as  we  are)  would  be  alarmed  and  say,  what 
have  we  been  about?  for  rathef  then  we  would  submit  to 
be  under  the  tributary  bondiige  of  old  England  and  her 
king,  we  fought  many  bloody  battles — to  deliver  us  frora 
her  controul,  how  many  of  our  forefathers  have  lost  their 
lives  ?— our  bondage  under  her  was  not  more  in  ecirpa- 
rison  to  that  of  the,  negroes,  than  a  8rop  of  water  from  a 
biicket  is  to  the  waters  of  the  sea  ;  yet  the  Americans  rose 
in  arms  and  fought  to  deliver  theipselves  from  so  small  a 
part  of  bondage,  that  their  children  might  be  free.  WhcH 
a  few  Americans  were  taken  captive  by  the  bisrbarous 
Algerines,  and  held  by  them  in  slavery,  whi^t  concern  was 
•ur  government  under  to  redeem  them,  <'ind  whv  i^as  this 
concern :"  It  vvas  because  these  poor  Arreiicans  h;^d  been 
free  before  they  fell  into  ihe  bands  of  this  LarbAtftkiS  peo- 

F 


(     68      ) 

;j»le.    What!  can  the  Americans  feel  the  blessings  offrec- 
dom,  and  not  feel  the  miserable  loss  of  those  who  happen 
to  be  deprived  of  it,    by  being  taken  and  put  into  abject 
slavery,  such  as  was  laid  on  those  taken   by   these  Alge- 
rines  ?    If  the  Ameri.  ans  -could  ftel  for  the    afHiction  of 
their  r(]unir}'men,  whilst  under  Alg\  rine  bondage,  and  for 
whose      ransom     government     gave     so    much    money - 
to  restore  them  to  liberty,  how  is    it  that  they,  have  no 
feelrngs  for  their  poor  helpless  black  brethren,  who  were 
once  as  free  in  their  own    nation   as  we  are  here,    before 
their  rulers  were  corrupted  by  the  European  and  Ameri- 
can people  f  I  say  how^  is  it  that  governn>ent  has  no  feel-  J 
ing  sense  of  the  negro's  misery;  that  they  will  not  eves 
give  privilege   to  such  masters   and  mistresses  on  v/hom 
just  freedom  has  made  his  just  demands,  andAvho  would  : 
be  willing  to  do  as  God  has  commanded  them,  bv  doing 
to  all  other  men  as  they  would  be  willing  that  men*  should 
do  to  them  in  every  point  of  justice  f  Perhaps  the  legis- 
lators in   vv'hose  hands  this  feeling  power  ought  to  be  for  i 
their    y/n  safety,  have  been  partakers  cl  the  great  and  un- 
just gain,  made  by   s     mar.y  mdividuals  in  keeping  free- 
dom from  his  just  right  ;  tbo'  as  unjust  as  any  robb.ry,it' ; 
has  made  them  rich  and  filled  them  "with  still  greater  de- 
sires tc  obtain  more  of  the  things  of  thits,  world  ;    (whick 
they  must  shordy  leav^.)     la  their  laxurious  -and  wantoa 
living,  they  must  have  lost  all  feeling  sense    of  the  mise- 
ries of  the  poor  injured   black  people,    who  are  not  in  as 
much  favour  with   th«ir  lordly  masters  as   their  dogs,  al- 
though it  is  by  their  labour  that  both  the  master  and  hi<j 
dogs  are  fed.     Yec?,  akho'  the^  ^ries  and    blood  of  these 
aiflicted  creatures  are  going  up  to  heaven  f  r  their  relief^ 
yet  the  masters  seena  not  to  feel  iy  but  there  is  a  Iday  has-, 
tening  on,  and  wilt  come  in  tijiie  or  iil- eternity,  to  make  ' 
fthese   oppressive  iiiasters  arrd  mistresses  feel  the  weight ^ 
of  the  miseries  the}'  compel  those  injured  creatures  to  un- 
dergo, by  the  authority  a  barbarous  law  has  given  them 
— although  It  may  go  under  the"  name  dFa  christian  law, 
-jf  it  is   christian    i,t   must    b^  an  antichristian  one,  which  j 
pro'essefh  God  in  wr^ids'^^t^t  in    works  denieth  him   and 
his  authori'y  ;  for  G- d  ha^s^o.nfnarded   all  men  to  do  lo 
others  as  'they  voiId1i.\e  ctheT,  c'c  to    them.     But  the 
hw^  of  Gicn  will  nox  allow  masters  this  iibcrtv.  v/ithout 


C    65    ) 

endengering  their  little  living  by  givingbond  and  perhaps 
security,  for  the  jgood  behaviour  of  othermen,  which  the 
Almighty  does  not  require  atour  hands,  for  it  is  enough 
with  God  for  a  man  to  be  bound  for  himself  and  his  owja 
good  behavior,  and- not  for  another. 

Now  ye  masters  and  mistresses,  let  me  put  the  question 
close  to  you — are   these   captivated   creatures  whom  yoM 
flealthusby,  of  the  human   family  or  of  the  brute  crea- 
tion ?     If  you  sav  they  are  not  of  the  human  family,  but 
are  a  kind  of  beasts  made  only  to  be  slaves  to  men  ;  even 
if  this  was  true,  let  me  tell  you  in  the  name  of  my  God, 
that  the  very  beasts  of  tht  field  are  entitled  to  justios  ;  and 
that  all  who  have  any  in  their  possession,  &  do  not  justke 
;to  them,  are  not  worthy  to  be  their ^  owners  ;     and  all  in- 
justice he  or  she  do  to  the  beasts,  which  God  has  put  un- 
der their  care,    will  be    obliged  to  give  him   an  account  ; 
for  he  has  given  all  his   creatures   who  have  life,   breath 
and  being  an  equal  right  to  justice,  they  cannot  plead  theiy 
own  cause,nor  employ  any  one  in  their  defence,  for  this 
reason  all  who  violate  their  rights  by  barbarcirs  usage,  arc 
enemies  to  God  as  long  as  they  remain  in  that  unmerciful 
practice,  altho'  they  may  desire  to  be  called  christii^ns.— ~ 
But  if  you  say  that  they  are  part  of  the  human  family-^- 
that  they  are  men  and  women^-that  they  i\av^  souls"  whkh 
ican  be  saved  by*'  grace,  or  lost  by  rebellion  against  God's 
"^saving  "hand  and  arm,  which  he  of  his  mercy  lias  and  wiih 
stretch  over  all  this   world— ^ai^id  that  the   Lord  is'feo  re- 
specter of   persons;   I  desire  to    know  in  what    way  you 
think  to  be  reconciled  to  God  after  you  have  been  guilty 
;of  robbing  and  defrauding  so  many  of  his  creatures  of  their 
just  right,  given  of  God  by  his  free  goodness  as  an  ever- 
lasting inheritance  to  all  mankind  ;    and  that    they   should 
enjov  this  precious  gift  without    iriterruptioji,  God   made 
and  placed  the  law   of  justice  in  the  hearts  of  everV^  man. 
capable  of  reason  and  understanding,  so  that  they  should 
all  be  acquainted  w^ith  it  ;    for  God  saw  that  if  he  placed 
it  anv   where  else,    some  men  might  be  deprived  of  the 
knowledge  of  it,  for  the  want   of  which  they  might  have 
committed  deeds  of  injustice,  and  at  the  day  of  judgment 
plead  ignorance,  God    knowing  that   it  would  be    a  good 
■excuse,    and  that  the  just  judge  could  not    turn   it  away, 
imt  all  such  unjust  deeds  go  unpunished  j  td  prevent  ihla^- 


Gocl  placed  it  in  that  sure  place  where  all  men,  of  what- 
ever cbloiir  of  Ration,  might  come  to  the  knowledge  of  it, 
and  lest  men  should  neglect  the  keeping   of  this   blessed  li 
law,  the  Lord   has  informed   us  by  the  mouth    of  his'son 
Jesus,  that  we  should  do  to  all  men,  as  v.'e  would  have  mea 
to  do  unto 'us.     1  hereby  ask  you  who  justify  the  buying^.. 
/selling;,  and  keeping  negroes  in  sUvery,    to  be  sold  agam 
at    pleasure,  like  horses  and   cattle,    or  any  other  dumb 
beasts,  whether  you  are   entirely  ignorant  of  the    law  ©f 
justice,  or  whether  you  have  any  knowledge    of   it  ?       If 
you  are  entireh"  ignorant,  the  Lord  may  show  j^ou  some 
mercy  ;  but  if  y©u  have  the  knowledge  of  it,  whence  caa 
you  expect  any  mercy,  having  no  regard  to  the  command- 
ipents  of  God  ?    Do  you  fttd  your  negroes  as  well  as  you. 
would  wish  to  be  fed,  if  you  were  under  them,  as  they  are 
under  you — do  you   clothe    them  as  well   as  you    would 
whh  to  be    clothed — do  you  lay  no  more  hard  laljour  on 
them  than  you  would  be  willing  that   they    should  lav  oa 
you — are  you  as  merciful  to  them  as  you  would  be  williisg 
they  should  be  to  you — do  you  give  them  who  have  wive« 
the  same  privilege  of  enjoying  each    other's  company,  as 
you  would  be  willing;   to  enjoy — would  you  be  willing  to 
be  sold  and  taken   away  from  your    wives _arjd   children,  ' 
where  vou  could  not  see  them  any  more — in  a  word,    are  ^ 
tvllling  that  God  should  overturn  the  state  of  things,   and 
place  you  in   the    negro's    condition    and  the  negroes  in 
vourt>wn  i"      As  some  of. you 'hav^   sai^  that  the  negroes 
were  better  off  than  their  niastcrs,  why  do  vou  not  change 
situation  with  them,  and  make  a  bargain  with  your  slaves 
to   give  them  up  the  great  house  v;ith  all  its  voluptuous- 
Eess,  and  you  take  their  kitchen  with  all  its  mean  and  de- 
graded furniture,  such  as  you  afford  them  for  all  their  la- 
bours on  which  you  live  so  voluptuously  ?    Stop  and  pause 
a  little,  thetj  you  will  be  better  able  to  judge  whether  yea 
have  done  as  you  would  be  willing  to  be  done  by — but  I 
am  ready  to  conclude  you  are  not  willing  that  a  change 
should  take  place,  by  which  you  might  be  dcaled  with  as 
you  deal  to  those  you  hold  as  slaves  under  you* 

Bat  why  are  you  not  willing,  when  so  many  of  you  to 
justify  yourselves  say  the  negroes  are  better  off  than  their 
masters,  for  they  have  no  care  in  providing,  and  nothing 
to  da  bat  what  they  are  ©rdered  ?  there  must  lis  s»me  rea* 


(      65      ) 

tons,  and'I  could  teh  you  most  of  ihem,  but  I  forbare  ; 
because  the  kings  ot  the  earth  would lathtr keep  their  king- 
ly stations  than  to  give  them  up,  and  become  as  their  own 
subjects.  Let  me  teil  you  all  \n  iio  say  that  the  r.egro 
slave  is  better  oiTinan  his  master,  to  go  and  enquire  of 
those  men  who  were  captive  to  the  Algerines  until  they 
were  ransomed  and  set  free,  whether  they  would  chuse 
to  be  the  slave  or  the  master  ?  it  may  b^  that  you  can  get  the 
ri"-ht  answer  from  those  who  have  experienced  both  irce- 
domand  slavery,  if  I  could  believe  that  the  negro  hul- 
ders  were  intirely  ignorant  of  the  law  of  justice,  I  might 
not  have  been  lead  to  write  this,  but  I  candidly  believe 
they  are  not  ignorant  ;  for  in  my  observation  I  have  seen 
men  resent  the  least  injustice  done  to  them,  although  they 
themseWes  were  practising  all  injustices  that  lay  m  their 
power,  to  such  as  fell  in  their  hands,  which  plainly  de- 
monstrates to  me  that  God  has  given  the  unjust  a  mea- 
sure of  the  law  of  justice,  which  law  being  placed  in  the 
unjust  himself,  he  is  bro't.  to  know  what  is  just  and  what 
is  unjust  J  but  those  who  vhave  no  knowledge  of  good 
and  evil,  cannot  transgress  nor  resent  any  injustice  done 
to  them,  for  where  there  is  no  law  there  cannot  be  any 
law-breakers  ;  but  where  there  is  a  just  law,  all  who  are 
under  that  government  are  to  pay  true  obedience  to  it, 
arid  all  those  who  break  it,  (if  found  out)  must  suffer  the 
penalty  thereof.  As  the  law  of  justice  is  of  God  himself, 
lie  knoweth  in  whose  hearts  he  hath  placed  it — by  what 
means  they  came  to  the  knowledge  of  it — who  payeth  any 
regard  to  it — w^ho  knowingly  breaks  it,  for  God  will  have 
a  witness  in  every  one,  who  will  declare  the  truth  in  be- 
half of  the  obedient,  and  against  the  disobedient  breakers 
of  his  commandments  ;  to  the  obedient  this  witness  will 
give  evidence  in  truth,  so  that  the  great  judge  of  both  th^ 
quick  and  the  dead  will  justify  and  clear  them  from  all 
penalties  ;  bat  to  the  disobedient  the  evidcuee  will  be  a- 
gainst  them  as  law-breakers,  for  coveting  the  lalx^ur  of  o- 
thers  without  making  just  compensation  for  it  ;  yea,  this 
evidence  v^ili  be  so  plain  in  truths  that  the  accused  will  not 
have  power  to  plead  inn(^cence,  or  to  say  that  he  or  s-he 
is  not  guilty,  for  they  will  know  themselves  guilty,  on 
whamthe  just  judge  will  pass  sentence  of  condemnation 


(   6C   ) 

-—for  what  O  man  !  thou   knowest  drcadv  ;  th|s  witnea*-. 

having  at  .undry  cimes  told  thee,    that  thou  did  not  do  as- 
them  would  oe  willing  to  be  done  by  in  many  cases. 

Kemember  that  all  just    weights   and  bailanccs  are  the 
JLord  s,  and  that  it  Js  ms  delight  for  all  men  to  keep  them  • 
bui  a  iatse  weight  and  baliance  is  abomination,  in  hi.i  si^htV 
VVjiere  IS  your  just    weight  when   you  teil    a  lie   to  v^ur 
neighbour  or  any   stranger,  in  order   to  get  the  best^nd 
oi  the  bargain  (as  you  call  itj  in  buymg,  selling,  swapin^ 
or  caang.ng  any  thing,  r     God's    v^itness  knows  that  thou 
art  the  maa  or  woman,  and  you  cannot  deny  it.     Remem- 
ber how  many  lies  and  oaths  you  have  falsely  swo-ra;  they 
must  be  iaise  because  you  knew  otherwise  than  what  you 
saiaor  3-wore,   at  the  very  moment  you  spoke  them.  Are 
you  not   guilty   of  this  and  much  more  Twhich  my  God 
v/iH  make  you  bear  witness  against  yourselves  to  your  con- 
clemnaiion,  unless  you  repent. and  leave  off  all  such  wick-> 
ed  practices  before  the   d,w  of  God's  mercy  is  over  with 
you,  who  know  yourselves  guilty  of  breaking  God's  law-^ 
in  any  way.      Is  itnot  written    that '"  cursed  is  the   mar 
wuo   partcih    man    and  wife  ;"  how. many  men  and  their 
w*ves  have  been  parted  by  the  slave  holders  ?  and  is  it  noi- 
said,^  -  What  God  hath  joined  together,     let  no  man  put 
asunder,.'     Now  God  is  love,  and  love  hath  joined  man 
and  v/oman  together  by  making  covenants  and  vows  in  pri^ 
vate  as  well  as  in  puWic,  both  of  white  and  black  people  - 
but  bow  many  black  men  and  tlieir  wives  have  been  torn 
asunder,     ?.nd    sold  far  fr<l'm  each    others,  whose  griefs- 
sighingsand  mournings  will  rise  against  you  at  the  day  of 
judgment,  and  cause  you   to  be  condemned  fcrthe  hard- 
ness of  your  hearts..    Did  you  not  see  their  partinjr  tears 
and  hear  their   mournful  cries-^how  could  you  bear  this 
tobe  aoneto  you  and  your  wives?,  vet  some  of  you  have 
doneitand^een  it.done..    Is .  this   keeping    GodV   com^ 
mandnGents  or  breaking  th^m  ?     Why  do  you  go  to  meet- 
ing unaer  the  pretence,  of   v/or.Hhiping   God?    h  will  be 
iioprailt  tQ.you.tocall    him>    Lard,,  and    not,  da    the 
th?n3>  he  has  commanded  yoii  ;  yet  yoa  are  willing  to  be 
called  christians,  allb>i.gh  you   art-guilty   of  heathenish 
deeds,  out  the  iDare.nume  of .beins^  a    chrkitlan  will  profit 
K^T^S^-i^*'^''''^^'''''^^^  ,H^    ei.d  af^nme..guiltT,of 


dd  as  yott"  please,  I  compel  none,  but  am  desirous  tliait^ail 
who  have  broke  God's  commandments,  should  believe^ 
repent  and  be  saved  from  all  eviU 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  danger  vf  bad  Cotmseh 

Mt  dear  children  and  fellow-creatures,  I  must  sKortlir 
leave  you  all  to  rt turn  to  that  earth,  of  the  dust  of  which 
I  was  made,  congealed  together  into  a  little  body,  and  by 
the  wise  power  of  God  formed  in  my  mother's  womb  in- 
to a  body,  in   which  it  pleased    him  to  put  a  spirit,  who 
hath  experienced  the  love  and  peace  of  God  in   keeping 
his  commandments,  and  the  great  sorrow  and  grief,  which 
comes  on  all  v/ ho  are  brought  tcsee  their  ingratitude  to- 
wards so  kind  and  merciful  a  God,  b)?^  breaking  his  com-"- 
mandments  ;  for  what  a  sorrow  and  distress  it  is  to  those 
who  are  awakened  to  a  true  sense    of  God^s  loving  kind- 
ness, in  his  great  and  good  providence  to  us  poor  unwor- 
thy creatures  j  I  say  when  we  are  brought  to  the  sight  of 
his  merciful  providence,  and  of  our  ingratitude,  unthank« 
fulness,  and  sinfulness  in  breaking  so  good  a  God's  com* 
mandments,  who  can  live  and  be  carekss  and  unconcern- 
ed for  his  transgressions,  after  he  is  brought  to  be  truly  sen- 
3ible  of  God's    goodness,  and  of  his  or   her  own  ingrati- 
tude— where  is  the  man  or  woman  truly  made  sensible  of 
their  own  sinful  ways,    that  can  shun  the  heavy  stroke  of: 
conviction,  v/hich  brings  the  sorrow  and  grief  of  a  broken- 
heart?    if  there  is  anyone  at  ease  at  the  above  sight,   he 
must  either  have  been  .  healed  of  his  wound  by  the  grace 
of  God,  or  else  he  must  remain  under  the  heavy  stroJke  of" 
condemnation,  where  there  cannot  be  any  ease  or  pleasure 
to  his  mind,  before  he  repents  and  returns  to  that  gracious 
God,  with.a.tnie   acknowledgipent  of  hfs  transgressions^ 
• — with  a  humble  heart,  begging  the  Lord's   merciful  for- 
giveness^lv/hich  h&must  receive  from  him  before  his  soul 
can  rest  in  Christ,  or;  ba   a .  true  christian. 

My  dear  children  and  oth^rg^;  be  you  aware  of  bad"^; 
CGiinsei,"  and  try  to  shun  it  h,j.  turning  yourselves  ^^^yz 
froinJt,  f©r. there-is- iK>tbi*?.g^©,cksiigtireua.:  .the  YipzTj  tk*^-- 


(     68      ) 

rattle-snalce  and  many  othtr  berpents  are  dangerous,  «iict 
mostly  all  people  are  atraid  to  be  bit  by  them,  because 
their  bites  are  poisonous,  and  will  kill  those  bit  by  them 
if  the  poison  is  not  soon  expelled  b)  the  application  of 
medicine  ;  but  ^d  counsel  is  more  dangerous  than  the 
bite  of  all  these  ;  for  h  does  not  only  kill  the  bodies  of 
those  who  are  bit  by  it,  but  their  souls  also  ;  it  was  by  it 
that  our  first  parents  transgressed,  and  by  which  we  must 
all  die  and  return  to  the  dnsi  we  >vere  taken  from.  It  was 
by  thatserpent,  which  I  call  had  counsel, tnatourfiTstparents 
▼'ere  bit,  v»hile  in  the  garden  of  God,  in  whose  bovvels 
we  all  lay  as  an  innocetit  seed  ;  yet  by  their  being  both 
bit,  one  by  the  council  of  the  serpent,  and  the  other  by 
the  counsel  of  our  mother  Kve,  they  were  both  poisoned^ 
and  we  were  all  affected  as  to  our  bodies  ;  this  is  not  all 
the  danger,  for  munkjndhave  two  lives,  one.. of  the  body 
which  is  visible,  the  other  of  the  soul  which  is  invisible, 
and  will  live  in  the  eternal  world  with  Christ,  in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  if  it  is  not  poisoned  by  the  bite  of  bad 
«ounsel  ;  for  all  souls  bit  and  poisoned  by  it  cannot  live 
to  ^et  to  heaven,  unless  it  is  expelled  from  the  soul  by 
tile  immediate  application  of  the  spiritual  blood  of  Christ. 
This  fiery  serpent  will  try  to  bite  every  soul  of  men,  who 
have  any  desire  to  leave  spiritual  Egypt  to  go  to  the  ho- 
13^  land,  where  they  may  be  happy — this  is  the  sei'pent 
who  killed  all  that  are  lost,  and  have  fallen  short  of  en- 
tering the  kingdom  of  God's  rest  and  peace  ;  there  is  no- 
thing else  can  poison  the  soul  and  bring  it  to  eternal  death, 
where  it  is  separated  from  the  life  and  hapj)iness  of  the 
children  of  God,  but  bad  counsel  ;  tliis  you  will  all  find 
true  in  time  or  in  eternity.  As  you  may  wish  to  know 
how  to  shun  this  flanp^erous  being,  I  will  tell  you  by  making 
sim.ple  comparisons,  that  vou  mar  gatfer  v^isdom  out  of 
it  for  your  preservation  ;  but  as  it  is  sirrsple,  he v  are  that 
j-o\i  do  not  despise  it,  least  m  isdom  shouki  forsake  your 
understanding,  &be  left  ia  the  same  danger  3'cu  have  been 
in  ;  but  I  pvay  yon  to  beg  that  p»)re  wisdom  which  comes 
from  on  high  to  stav  with  vou,  to  direct  your  understand' 
ing  until  you  hear  my  simple  comparisons,  for  out  of  sim- 
pli' ity  God  can  and  will  brinf^  \visdom,  and  thcr^  is  no- 
thing so.  vve-ik  hvvt  what  he  can  gi\v  and  bring  strength  out 
#fitj  therefore  i  gray- you  to  liatteatiye*. 


C      69      ) 

You  have  heard  that  snakes  can  charm  hirds  so  strong- 
ly, that  they  will  iiring  them  to  such  a  cVeUision,  that  they 
cannot  get  away  from  them,  but  at  Ust  fall  into  their 
mouths  and  become  a  prey  to  the  snakes.  Even  so  it  is 
with  bad  counsel,  he  seems  to  have  po  vver  to  charm,  and 
when  he  nxes  his  charming  eyes  on  us,  and  we  feel  him 
begin  to  draw  our  attention  towards  him,  if  we  do  not 
immediately  strive  by  refusing  to  obey  him,  and  cry  out 
in  prayer  for  the  help  of  the  Lord,  grace  or  spirit  to  save 
us  like  Peter  of  old,  when  he  left  the  shift  to  walk  on  the 
water  to  go  to  Jesus  ;  but  when  he  saw  the  sea  and  wind 
so  boisterous,  his  faith  whi9h  had  given  him  power  ta 
walk  on  the  water  began  to  fail,  and  when  he  found  him- 
^self  sinking,  he  saw  that  he  could  not  save  himself  with- 
out the  help  of  Jesus  ;  therefor  -  he  cried  out  saying  *'  Lord 
sav^ne,"  and  Jesu?5  hearing  his  cry,  immediately  stretch- 
ad  Forth  his  hand  and  caught  Peter,  and  saved  hina 
from  his  danger.  Remember  that  God's  gr^vce  is  all-suf- 
ficient to  save  to  the  utmost,  and  that  there  is  a  promise 
given,  ^^e  believe  from  God,  who  will  not  nor  caimot 
lie)  that  whosoever  calls  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  the 
day  of  his  mercy  shall  be  saved.  So  when  any  of  you. 
fe;;!  his  drawing  charms,  in  any  case  whatever,  make 
some  impression  on  your  mind  or  de«;ire,  then  is  your 
danger  ;  therefore  at  such  trying  times  you  ought  to  draw- 
nigh  to  the  Lord,  whois  willing  and  able  to  save  all  wha 
will  call  on  him — there  is  no  other  to  be  called  on  for 
kelp,  but  the  Lord  maker  of  heaven  and  earth,  who  is  n* 
respecter  of  persons,  but  all  who  truly  call  on  him  and' 
are  desirous  of  his  helping  hand,  to  them  he  will  give  his 
aid,  be  they  of  what  colour  or  nation  whatsoever — with- 
:#ut  him  there  is  no  saviour,  and  whosoever  is  saved  from' 
%he  dangerous  charms  and  bites  of  bad  counsel,  is  saved 
by  his  helping  hand  like  Peter  v/as  ;  and  this  is  the  only 
way  we  can  take  to  shun  and  get  clear  of  it. 

You  also  may  want  to  know  what  bad  counsel  is  ;— -it 
is  all  kind  of  advices  and  persuadings,  offered  to  yoia 
either  externally  or  internally,  to  draw  you  into  evil  by 
persuading  you  to  break  any  of  God*s  commandments, 
©r  to  do  any  thing  that  you  know  you  ought  not  to  do,  or 
to  depart  from  the  path  of  righteousness  ;  and  least  any 
•f yQii  sh©;ald. forget  this  path,  aad  be  iati&sd  t^  vr^lh'im- 


(70     ) 

the  path  of  sin,  I  will  describe   the  path  or  main-road  tc 
righteousness  :— rit  is  the  Lord's   described  path,  which 
he  hath  opened  to  the  kingdom   of  heaven,  that   all  the, 
righteous  may  travel  in  it  with  the    greatest  safety,  and 
thus  he  describes  it  to  be  himself,  for  he  says,  that  him- 
self is  the  way,  th^  truth  and  the    life,    and  that  there  ie 
no  other  way  by  which  m.en  can  get  to  heaven,  except  by 
walking  in  the  light  of  this  path,  which  God  the  father  has 
prepared  for  jail  the    righteous  to    walk   in  by  Christ  the 
Lord,  to  the  lafid    of  true  rest   and   peace     The    brighl-l 
light  of  this  path    is  that    which   enlighteneth   every  one 
coming  into  the  world,    and  it  is  by  it  that   mankind  are 
brought  to  know  good  from  evil.     Perhaps  you  may  ask 
me  how  you  are  to   know  when  you  are   m  this  path  of 
safety  which  leads  to  heav.en,  and  how   you  are  to  know , 
when  you  are  draM'n  off  from  it  ?    I  his  is  as  easily  knov/H' 
as  it  is  to  know  day  from  night,  or  which  is  the  swceiest, 
honey  in  the  comb,  or  the  strongest  juice  of  rue,  worm- 
wood or  the  gall  of  a  beef's  liver  ;   I  suppose  anyrone  after 
having  tasted    of  each   sort,  would  at  a  word^ay  that- 
the  honey  was  the  sweetest.     All  who  do  not  knov/  when 
they  are  in  the    path  of  righteousness,    may  be    assured 
that  their  way  of  life  does  not  please  the  Lord,    and  th^.tc 
the  way  they  have  been  traveiling^does  not  lead  to  hesven  , 
for  no  one  can  walk  in  that  holy  path  and  nt)t  know  it,  bu£ 
they  who  do,  keep  God's    commsmdments,  and  in  doing 
so  they  must  love   him,    for  which   God    the  father   and 
Christ  his  son  love  them,  and  make  themselves  manifest, 
which  manifestation  renews  their  love  to  Christ  in  such  a 
manner  thatit  is  mexpressible  ;  this  cannot  be  enjoyed  and 
be  .unknown,    aiid  they  who  know  not  these  enjoyments, 
are  in  constant  jeopardy  of  falling  from  their  path  of  sin, 
into  everlasting  ruin.     I  pray  all  who  m^y  read  or  hear 
these  truths,  which  God  has  given  me  to  write  to  them, 
I  say,  I  pray  them  to  awake  to  a  solemn    consideration^ 
^nd  pray  to  the  God  of  heaven  who  is  the  giver  of  all 
good,  that  it  would   please  him  to  open  their  eyes,  that 
they  might  see  themseh'^s  just  as  they  are,    for  a    man 
must  first  see  his  danger  hefore  he  will  seek  to  be  deliver- 
e<l  from  it  ;    there  are  thousands   in  the  greatest   danger, 
but  they    will  not  believe  it,    for   they    see   others   who 
profess  to  be  c:irls;iatis,  walking  in  the  same  path  of  si» 


(     71     ) 

tliey  do  themselves,  therefore  they  will  not  believe  ther-e 
is  d;inger  until  it  may  be  too  late  ;  but  on  a  dying  bed  they 
-often  begin  to  be  ahirmed,  and  cry  to  him  they  have  de- 
spised, even  the  Lord,  who  before  they  woald  not  believe, 
receive  nor  obey. 

'    That  you  may  all  know  the    path  of  righteousness,    I 
%iU  hear  describe  it  : — It  is  paved  all  over  with  love  and 
peace  with  both  God  and  men,    and  with  all  things  that 
fiavl;  a  sense  of  feeling,  life,  breath,    and  a  being  on  all 
tlie  face  of  the  earth  ;  also,  with  equity,  justice  and  truth, 
and  all  who  travel  in  this  path  are   innocent  and  inoffen- 
sive— they  are  iiiled  with  a  great  hunger  and  thirst  for 
righteousness,    and  a  -constant   prayer   to   God,    that  it 
would  please  him  of  his  love  and  mercy,  to  pardon  them 
for  all  their  past  misstepsin  the  path  of  sin— they  are  Ijke 
the     returning     ptodigal    mentioned    in  the   scriptures, 
for  altho'  he  had  sately  returned  and  got  to  his    father's 
house,  from  which  he  had  to  his  own  distress  strayed,  yet 
fiehunbjy  ;  ontessed  his  unworthiness,    and  begged  not 
for  the  ^ighe^st  seat,    but  a  ly    to  be  made    as  one  of  his 
father*s  hired  servants  ;  for  although  Wis   father  forgave 
him  his  transgression  in   w^asting  the  goods  he  had'givea 
liim,  and  that    with  harlots  in  the  way  of  rioting  and  in- 
considerate  living,  like  many  in   these  days,  who  spend 
much  of  the  good  ti^nepf  God  in  a  v.icked  life,  until  the 
first  portion  of  innocence^js  spent,  like  the  prodigal's.     I 
« \y,  although  the  fat-\er  h^d  forgiven  him,  and  caused  the 
fattened  calf  to  be  kiUed,    that  there  might  be  a  rejoicing 
feast  of  great,.gladness,    yet  ihe  poor  prodigal  could    riot 
forget  his  jwnunworthiness,  bui  mustv  acknowledge  and 
^confess  his  naistonduct  in  d  nng  as  he  had  done.     So  it  is 
with  ail  those  .v  ho  have  returned  t;>  the  house  of  the  Lord 
their  God,  by  v/aU:iug  inthe  path  of.  righteousness,  which 
th^  Lord  has  f-ast  up  for  thojie  who  are  weary  of  sirr,  and 
brought  to  abhor    iniquity ;   for  although  these  hive   re- 
turned, and  are  made  partakers  of  the  joyfid   meeting—- 
of  the  presence  of  the  Father  and  his  lovely  son  Christ, 
whos.^  girments  are  now    o   be  put  on  ^hem,    as  tht^.  best 
robe  for  their  accepianc.^'ffmorigst  the  children  of  God ;  yet 
■ths  thought  of  their  p^st  lives,  iu  wastiig  so  m  ichofthat 
precious  ume.  whkh  God  had  given  them  for  good  pur- 
■foaes,  ia  sttch  a  manaer  as  thev  knew- they  had  with  the 


(     72') 

•wiclfea  and  ungocll}^,  humbles  their  iTiinds,  although  the^ 
knov'.-  that  God  has  ibrgiven  thenr,-  by  the  iove  he  hai 
manifested  t<»  themin  their  return  to  him  ;  yet  it  is  natu- 
ral, or  in  other  wcjrds  grateful  in  them  to  praj  his  pardor:. 
and  that  it  would  please  him  to  make  them  pure  in  heart  as 
lie  is  pure,  and  holy  as  he  is  holy: — that  it  would  please 
him  to  deliver  them  from  all  evils,  both  in  words  and  deeds* 
As  they  travel  on  in  this  wry  or  path  of  ri^^hteousmss,> 
they  are  made  sensible  of  God's  love  and  goodness  inhi^ 
kind  provideB^,  for  the  many  things  of  this  life  ;  liut 
above  all  they  admire  his  lov^e  in  sending  his  soa  Christ* 
to  save  us  from  the  evils  of  this  world,  and  from  the  p^un- 
ishment  due  thereto.  But  to  bring  you  to  the  true^knov/- 
ledge  of  the  son  of  God,  you  must  be  brought  oilfroniaU 
things  that  are,  or  have  been  visible ;  fur  they  are  not  of 
the  son  of  God,  but  of  the  creating,  making  or  preparing 
work  of  my  God.  Be  not  astonished  at  this,  for  1  know 
thatnot  onl\the  world,  but  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands 
of  professors,  do  believe  that  the  body  named  Jesus — bora, 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  suffered  death  on  the  cross  at 
Calvary,  w  as  the  son  of  God  ;  but  let  me  tell  you  all,  that 
this  body  was  of  the  visible  things  of  this  earth,  and  that 
it  did  not  come  down  from  God  out  of  heaven  ;  therefore 
it  could  not  possibly  be  the  son  of  God,  b\it  it  was  in  truik 
the  son  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  whom  God  by  his  wisdom 
prepared  in  her  womb — of  her  own  seed,  without  the  seed 
of  man  ;  for  if  it  had  been  of  the  seed  of  man,  it  might 
have  been  too  UTiclean  for  the  purpose  God  intended  it  ; 
biit  being  of  the  Virgin's  seed  he  made  it  ready  asi  a  house 
or  temple  for  his  son  to  come  in,  and  w  herein  he  might 
do  his  will,  therefore  this  bodv  being  composed  of  bloocj^., 
.fiesh  and  bones,  begot  of  the  Virgin's  seed,  without  tlie 
interm.ixtureof  the  seed  of  man,  w^as  but  a  visible  bodf 
into  whom  tlVesnirit  sent  down  from  God  out  of  heaven, 
entered  and  became  the  Son  of  God,  and  he  alone  is  the 
saviourofall  who  are  saved — -there  is noother beside  him 
— he  is  called  the  bread  of  life,  and  all  who  eat  thereof 
'vviil  live  forever.  But  to  return  to  tlie  place  where  I  said, 
that  above  all  things  we  admire  Ijis  love  m  sending  his  son 
Christ  to  snve  us  from  the  evils  of  this  world,  and  the 
punishment  due  thereto  ; — being  made  sensible  of  these 
great  favours,   our  hearts  are  fiWed  with  love  and  joy  un- 


bpcakable,  ef  which  the  world  knoweth  nethiti]^— •ut 
liearts  are  made  truly  humble  and  thankful  for  every 
thing  we  enjoy  in  this  life,  which  are  too  many  for  me  to 
€nume'a  e — also  for  that  precious  gift  of  faith  and  true 
iiope  anchored  in  Christ,  which  gives  us  confidence  by  his 
manifestation  and  the  overflowing  of  his  love,  that  when  it 
shall  please  him  (the  father  of  all  mercies)  to  call  us 
©ut  of  time  into  eternity,  he  will  give  us  eternal  rest  in 
the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Is  it    possible  that      any    man  or  woman's    spirit  can 
walk  in   the  forementioned  path   and  not  know  it  ?      No 
there  never  was  any,  young  nor  old  that  were  truly  travel- 
ling this  path,  but  were  made  sensible  of  it  ;     if  nothing 
else  would,  they  could  know  it  by  the*  glory  of  the  Lord 
appearing  to  them,  and  covering  them  oil  over  as  the  wa- 
ters coyer  the    face  of  the  great   deep.     But  all  who  are 
strangers  to^  this  path,  and    cannot    witness  the    truth  o 
riaese  my  savings,  are  either  dead  or  have  their  dwellings 
inspiritusd   Egypt,  and  are  in  daily  danger  of  an  eternal 
overthrow.     Havinfij  now  given   you    my   dear  children 
and  others,  a  short  description  of  the   path  of  righteous- 
ness, I  desire  you  to  walk  therein  ;  far  it  leads  to  heaven, 
where  all  the  righteous  are  brethren,  let  their  bodily  skin 
be  of  what  colour  it  may  ;  they  are  all  lovers  of  God  and 
iind  of  each — other  they  are  and  will  be  of  one  spirit  in 
Christ  their  Lord. 

When  you  hear  the  Lord's  precious  voice,  persuading 
you  to  turn  to  his  holy  path  by  leaving  your  sins,  do  not 
harden  your  hearts  by  turning  away  from  his  Sweet  coun- 
sel, and  say  that  you  cannot  yet,  but  will  some  other  time 
when  you  have  done  this  thing  or  that,  or  when  you  have 
a  better  opportunity  ;  this  will  be  found  dangerous,  as  it 
ariseth  from  the  charms  cf  bad  counsel,  for  if  you  do  not 
listen  to  the  voice  of  the  bad  counsellor,  you  will  not  de- 
ny the  Lord,  neither  will  you  refuse  his  righteous  coun- 
sel— when  he  calleth,  you  will  follow  him  in  the  wa)  of 
goodness,  and  immediately  forsake  all  your  sinful  wavs, 
jfike  the  sons  of  Zebedee  when  Christ  called  them  ;  at  his 
©all  you  wdl  forsake  all,  take  up  }'Our  crc^ss  and  fellow 
him.  But  the  bad  counsellor  tells  you  thit  you  are  not 
ready  yet,  and  tha^it  is  lime  enOHgh,  that  it  wili  suit  y^u, 

G 


(     74     ) 

ana  your  business  much  better  at  a  future  day  ;  this  gen^ 
erally  "happens  when  young  people  are  cjilled  of  the  L^rd, 
and  are  made  sens  be  by  his  merciful  visitation,  that  a 
righteous  life  woidd  be  the  best  for  them  to  live  in.  I 
say,  at  those  times  of  God's  mercy  they  would  immedi- 
ately leave  all  and  follow 'the  counsel  of  the  Lord,  if  it 
were  not  for  listeiiing  lo  the  charms  of  bad  counsel,  which 
makes  them  think  that  they  cannot  t«ke  up  that  cross  of 
going  into  a  sober  righteous  life,  until  they  get  m  >rned.. 
Some  of  the  young  people  return  this  answer  to  th  •  Lord, 
that  if  he  will  spare  them  until  they  gtt  married,  then  they 
will  enter  into  a  sober  righteous  hfe  ;  and  until  then  the 
bad  counsellor  makes  them  think,  that  they  cannot  so  well 
leave  their  wild  and  rude  company,  l^hi^e  as  they  were 
in  the  world  before  they  had  these  exercisi:  g  thougnr.., 
about  the  necessity  of  an  alteration  of  life,  yet  by  their 
refusing  to  take  up  their  cross,  the  Lord  leaves  them  ia 
the  world  as  he  first  found  them  ;  but  sometim.es  his  mer- 
cy spares  them  until  they  are  married,  and  at  their  owa 
appointed  time  the  Lord  calls  on  them  again,  and  p-ts 
them  in  mind  of  their  promises — that  he  had  spared  them 
until  they  h  id  accomplished  the  thing  they  desired  to  do, 
before  thty  were  ready  to  follow  him  ;  but  the  bad  coun- 
sellor tells  them  that  it  is  not  yet  convenient,  for  they^ 
must  buy  a  tract  of  land  and  pay  far  it,  or  b-  ild  a  house 
to  live  in,  or  to  accomplish  something  or  other,  before 
they  can  take  up  heir  cross  and  follow  Christ  into  a  so- 
ber and  righteous  life  ;  ?nd  as  they  refuse  his  good  offers, 
he  may  very  justly  leave  th^im  to  follow  their  own  desires, 
wherein  they  most  assuredl}-  will  fall  a  prey  to  the  bad 
cojinsellor. 

Havinc»-  given  you  a  description  of  the  path  of  righteous- 
ness,  I  will  describe  the  bad  counsellor,  from  whence  all 
bad  actions  spring: — It  is  a  spirit  which  the   m)rtal    eye 
cannot  see,  yet  the-  righte«-us  can  see  his  works  and  under- 
siai.d  his  ways  ;  there fon-  they  know  ho  v  to  shun  h  spaths. 
He  works  !>uth  in  ernally.  and   externally  :— in  his  exter- 
nal work  he  bring     orth  a  n^ altitude  of  evils,  by  his  cap-', 
tivate'  instruments    c?\"^d  men  and  women — but  his  in-' 
tevT^al  mischirf  IS   'icne  in  the  minrls  of  men,  by  bringing; 
evil  thoun;     -  i'.tQrheir  minds,  which  iire  obeyed  by  those  ! 
who  forsake  the  iustruction of  the  good  counsellor,  by  do-.| 


f     73     ) 

,  ing  which  they  are  bit  and   poisoned,  or  in  other  words 
:are  affected  with  that  sinful  disease,  which  will  kill  them, 
unless  they  do  immediaiely  apply  for  that  healing  medi- 
cine, v:hich  none  but  Christ  can  administer   to  them,    for 
amongst  all  the  doctors  in  this  world  this  medicine  is  not 
to  be  found,  but  if  any  are  desirous  of  being  healed,   they 
mast  seek  him  whom  they  turned  away   when  he  offered 
himself  t»  be  their  Saviour  ;  this  will  make  them  remem- 
ber what  had  past,   in  and  at  the  time  he  tried  to  persuade 
them  to  forsake  their  bad   ways;  yea,   it   will  make  them, 
remember   how  foolish  they  were  when  they  told  so  good 
a  friend,  that  they  could  not  enter  into  covenant  with  him 
lintil  they  were  married,  ^ot  land  or  hoiises,  or  some  other 
thing  the  bad  counsellor  h;:id  persuaded  them  they  wanted, 
before  they  could  be  ready  to  follow  Christ  into  a  righte- 
'  4\xs  and  sober  life,    as  his  light  had  made  manifest  that  it 
#ould  be  best  for  them  to  do.     Yea,  when  they  find    the 
i^ery  they  are  come  into,  for  the  want  of  this  precious 
h':'viling  medicine,  preserved  by  Christ  for  his  own  minis- 
tration to  his  followers  ;    how   will   these  poor  poisoned 
!  creatures  feel,  when  they  see  that  there  is  no  help  but   in 
hi;n  whose  counsel  they   forsook,  for  the  sake  of  getting 
a  wife,  a  piece  of  land  or  some  other  thing  ;    and  when 
tliey   are  brought  to  remember    how  many   times  he  had. 
.led  on  them  to  forsaKc   ihcir    cvii  wavs,    huu  LuCCIHt- 
righteons  and  sober,   will   not  the   thoughts  of  their    past 
bad  connuct    break  their   hearts  ?     Necessity    will    then 
compel  them  ^o  go  and  seek  the  mercy  of  the    Lord  they 
'-  -I  so  long  neirlected,  praying  to  him  to  apply  his  heal- 
I  1.15  blaod   to   theii  souls.      But  how  many    discouracring 
!' thoughts  must  they  encounter,  and  how   m-aiiv  diincriities 
V    U  b:id  counsel  throw  in  their  way,  -  by  upbraiding  them 
i,  w^ith  their  miserable  sins,  and  telling  tliem  that  God  will 
not  have  any  mercy  on  them,  having  so  often  forsaken  his 
good  counsel — what  can  these  poor  creatures  do  ?     for  if 
they  do  not  seek  and   obtain    Christ's  healing    medicine, 
i  they  must  die  an   eternal  death.     How  will  they  be  cast 
I  down  when  their  eyes  are  opened,  aiifl  see  to  what  a  state 
bad  counsel  has  brought   them  when  thev   remember  the 
good  olfers  of  the  Lord,  to  bring  them  to  a  righteous  life 
j— 'ivill  it  not  break  their  hearts  and  forj^et  the  pleasure  of 
fWwife,    or  of  any  other  thing  of  this  sinful  world  ?     AU- 


(     76     > 

they  will  then  want  will  be  to  be  forgiven  for  their  past; 
sins — be  made  holy  and  pure  in  he^rt,  by  which  tbey 
may  be  brought  to  see  God  and  have  their  souls  healed. 
In  order  to  obtain  this  great  favour,  they  must  send  a 
messenger  to  the  Lord,  to  intreat  a  return  of  his  holy 
light — acknowledging  their  transgression,  witb  a  humble'' 
petition  praying  his  forgiveness  for  their  past  sins,  and 
that  it  would  please  him  to  preserve  them  hereafter  from 
all  sins  ;  but  often  this  messenger  is  not  successful  at  first,. 
and  must  be  sent  again  several  times,  during  which  the 
bad  counsellor  will  try  his  utmost  tQ  discourage  y«u  from 
seeking  God's  favour,  telling  you  that  it  is  only  stripping 
yourselves  of  all  pleasures  of  life,  and  above  all  people 
making  yourselves  miserable  ;  therefore  you  might  as- 
well  quit  sending  to  intreat  God's  favour,  as  your  sins 
have  been  so  great  by  doing  many  things  vou  knew  you 
•ught  not  to  have  done,  and  left  undone  what  you  ought 
to  have  done,  that  your  sins  are  not  the  sins  of  ignorance^ 
which  God  had  winked  at  and  by  repenting  of  them  he 
hath  promised  to  forgive  ;  but  thy  sins  are  the  sins  of 
knowledge  and  presumption,  and  they  have  been  so  hei- 
nous that  God  will  not  forgive  them  ;  therefore  it  will  be 
as  well  to  cease  petitioning  to  him,  for  instead  of  getting 
better  you  get  worse — take  my  advice,  eat,  drink  and  be 
merry — here  is  all  the  pleasure  you  can  have — for  if  God' 
would  have  mercy,  he  would  have  showed  it  to  you  be- 
fore to-da}^  This  is  a  snare  of  the  bad  counsellor  indeed  ; 
O  !  resist  all  his  temptations,  and  cry  the  more  earnest, 
to  the  Lord,  who  will  in  his  own  good  time  deliver  you 
out  of  all  your  distress,  by  giving  you  his  precious  spirit 
to  overcome  the  devil,  and  to  heal  all  your  wounds  which 
have  become  so  painful  by  the  memory  of  your  past  sins^ 
But  if  he  cannot  prevail  in  tempting  you  to  turn  to  youF  i 
old  sins,  like  the  dog  to  his  vomit,  or  the  sow  to  the  wal- 
lowing in  her  mire  again,  he  will  try  to  make  your  sin^. 
appear  so  unpardonable,  that  if  possible  he  will  draw  you 
into  the  path  of  desperation,  and  by  that  means  overthrov 
3-ou  like  he  has  many  before,  who  to  get  rid  of  so  trou-.j 
blesorae  and  distressed  minds,  have  made  way  with  them-  t 
selves  ;  this  is  bad  counsel  on  every  hand,  for  if  one  will : 
not  prevail  in  keeping  you  from  drawing  nij^h  to  Christ,^^ 
Jie  will  try  another.     But  if- you  want  to  see  and  enjoy  i; 


(,    -77      ) 

Gocl's    love  and  enter  his  hcaveniy  kiT>gdarr»,    }  ^ "  "       • 
resist  ali  S|^ch  t\*mptations,  for  they   are  the  snare.. 
d*ivil,  whicli  we  are  commanded  to  rtsist ;  an,ditv 
he  and  all  his  bad  counsels  will  flee  away — ^but  if  we  oDey 
he  vviii  at  last  do^^roy  us. 

I  pray  you  all  to  be  on  your  guard,  and  resist  temptation 
to  the  ^utmost  of  your  power — do  not  fail  at  such  trying 

*  tim^  to  send  the  messenger  of  prayer  to  the  Lord,  with 
all  possible  speed,  praying  him  to  come  and  deliver  you 

>  from  all  evil — as  this  messenger  draws  nigh  to  the  I?iord* 
the  Lord  will  draw  nigh  to  you  In  his  own  good  time, 
when  he  comes,  your  adversary  (tho'  ever  so  crafty)  will 
fly  away,  and  the  Lord  wiil  comfort  and  bring  you  home 

^  to  his  lovely  fold  of.  righteousness,  where  there  will  be 
more  joy  over  you  than  over  those  who  never  went  astray  f 
these  are  the  innocent  babes  who  never  came  to  the  know* 
ledge  of  the  law  of  God  in  this  world,  for  as  God  had  not 
given  it  to  them,  but  took  them  away  in  innocence,  thcv 
could  not  go  astray. 

Having  given  you  a  short  sketch  of  the  dangers  of  bpd 
counsel,  and  from  whence  it  Com^s,  I  will  endeavour  to 
draw  to  a  close,  by  telling  you  that  it  may  be  known  only 
by  our  watching  over  the  motions  and  thoughts  of  our 
minds,  for  every  thought  which  presuadesor  draws  us  to 
eat  of  the  forbidden  fruit,  forbidden  by  God  in    this  gos* 

,  pel  day,  is  of  the  bad  counsellor.  This  evil  fruit  is  ail 
kinds  of  evil,  forbidden  by  the  righteous  Lord>,_  but  bro't 
©n  by  the  devil;  and  as  soon  as  discovered  by  us,  we 
©ught  to  cry  to  the  Lord  to  deliver  us  from  ihe  evil  which 
has  presented  itself  to  our  view,,  and  from  all  we  mr-y  be. 
tempted  to  by  bad  thoughts,  for  it  is  the  seed  sowed  by 
the  baa  counsellor  in  the  early  part  of  man's  days,  and  has 
sprung  up  and  grown  into  so  large  a  tree  of  evil,  jhat  its 
branches  have  spread  over  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  ; 
and  no  country  in  this  v/orld    is  exempted  from  it  excent 

^.  the  holy  land,   where  it  cannot  ^row,  nor  any   of  its  poi- 

^  sonous  fruits  can  be  known.  It  anyVould  vvish  lo  he  in- 
habitants  of  God's  holy  land,  they  must  Torsak^  jdl  the 
seeds  of  bad  counsel,  or  they  cannot  enter  therein  ;  for 
fi-xom  this  seed,  (which  I  call  bad  t!toughts)^^omes  all  the 
sins  and  evils  that  man  and  woman  were  ever  guilty  of  in 

G  2 


(  7^  ) 

this  world—this  seed  has  brought  into  this"  world  all  tire 
wars  and  biood-shed  that  ever  was,    since  the    time   that 
Cain  killed  his  brother  Abel  to  this   day,  for^f  this  seed 
had  not  been  sowed  and  received    by  mankind  from   the 
hand  of  the  sower,    (who  is  the  devil)  >his  world  would 
have  been  in  love  and  peace  withe^ich  other  to  thU  day — 
neither  would  there  have  been  any  evils  on  earth— all  man- 
kind would  have  continued  in  the  image  of  God   w  erein 
they  were  created  ;  but  this  corrupting  seed  was  first  sow- 
ed whilst  man  slept  in  inito  ence,  by   the  enen^y  of  God 
into  his  field,  (which  is  this  world,    or  the;  hearts  of  men 
women  and    children)  into  v/hich   God    first   sowed   his 
good  seed,  and  wherein  if  no  other  seed  had  been  receiv- 
ed, there  never  would  have  been  any  evil  deeds  commit- 
ted on  earth.     O  lamentable  !   and  above  all  things  to  be 
lamented  !  that  ever  mankind   should   give  place  for  the 
seed  of  the  enemy  of  God  to  grow  in   them,    which  has 
brought  forth  so  much  tares  or  wickedness,  which  the  de- 
vil,  (God  and  man's   enemy)    has  been  sowing  into  thfcir 
hearts,  and  from  v;hich  all  evils  sprung  from  : — such    as 
wars  and  blood5hed — evil  words  and  deeds-^.dl  injustice 
——yea,  even  the  evil  of  defrauding  men  of  their  freedom, 
v/h'ch  God  hath  given  to  all  men  under  his  gospel  dispen- 
sation, for  an  everlasting  inheritance   from  generation    to 
generation,  as  long  as  men  are  on  earth.     But  how  unfor- 
tunate it  is,  that  men  should  he  so  corrupted  bv  this  wick- 
ed seed,  that  instead  of  doing  justice  to  all  mankind,  they 
have  turned  to  the  worst  of  all  injustice,  by   making  one 
the  slave  of   another — by  the  deceiving  of  the   deceiver, 
th^y  justify  themselves  ig  buying,  selling  and  keeping  ihcir 
brother  a  slave  as  if  he  was  an  ox  or  an  ass,  or  as  if  God 
had  made  them  of  some  inferior    earth,  lo  be  doomed  to : 
bear  all  the  injuries  the  worst  oppressors  were  capable  of 
infiictiftgon  them.     Look    at  their  unmerciful    whippings. 
— ^look  at  their  blood  trickling    from  their  necks  to  their 
heels,  staining  the  groanj;J,  who  o  eneth    her   mouth    td 
receive  it,  and  to  keep  it  until  God  sends  out  his  reapers,, 
with  orders  to  gather   up  all  the  tares,,  and  hind  them  in.. 
bimdles  to  be  burned  ; — then  their   blood  who  had  been 
as  it  were  hid  in  the  earth,  shall  rise  and  be  brought  into  : 
rem^m'^rance,  to  the  condemnation  ofall  those  v/hose  hearts 
were  so  hard,  th^t  they  couid.not  h^ar  the  prayers  an4r 


(     79     ) 

cries  of  their  p(>or  aftliaed  Atrican  brethren;  whose 
paius  under  th.  hand  of  the  cruel  masur  ur  mistress  (so 
called)  or  the  Wbarous  overseer,  by  the  cruel  use  of  the 
cow-sicin  or  hickory,  which  pams  were  two  gr.at  for  nu< 
wan  aesh  to  bear,  or  for  any  man  ot  grace  to  hear. 

Lo^k    (undvoa  will  sec;  how  many  sorts  oi  tormen^ 
they  make  use'of  en  .hose  bound   creatures,    to   gratify 
their  revenge— for  what  crimes  are  these   afflictions   laid 
onihem?    Whv,  say  they,  they  are  4asy  and  do  not  mind 
^ hai  IS  told  to  them-titSy  do  not  do  the  thir.gs  they   are 
ordered  to  do-they  are  saucy  and  will  tell  hes-^areun- 
dutiful  in  many  .ases-^he  fire  was  not  made  by  day  light 
_ihev  did  not  make  haste  in  feedingthe  stock,  when  they 
were  called  they  did  not  answer,  and  many  such  crimes  ; 
but  the  greatest  is,  the  dog  (or  rascal)  had^liberty^to  go 
andsee  his  wife,  and  did  not  mind  my   orders  ;    for  she 
did  not  live  more  than  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  or  8  miles'  distance, 
and  1  was  sokindtothe  dog,  that  I  let  him  go  once  a  .ponth, 
and  sometimes  once  a   week,  after  he  had  donehisday  s 
^vork    and   fed  my  stock,,  which  did  not  take  more  than 
one  hour  last  Saturday  night-he  stayed  all  Sunday,  altho 
I  ordered  hhii  to  be  home  on  Sunday  night,  but  the  damn- 
ed rascal  did  not  mind  me,    for  he  did    not    come  home 
until  Moadav  morning  when  the  sun  was  up  j  nay,Uwa* 
almost  one  or  two  hours  high— but  I    will  learn    the  dog 
to  mind  me,  and  he  at  home  ready  to  go  to  work,  by  day 
iio-ht,  or  ,  t  the  furthest  by   sun-rise.     For  these  (so  call- 
edVRTeat  transgressions,  the  poor  bound  creature^is  tied 
and  stripped,  to  gratify  the  barbarous  heart  of  an  unmer- 
dfiil  master,  mistress  or  cruel  overseer,  who  have  ears  to 
he,r,  but  their  hearts  are  so  hardened  by  the  bad  coun- 
cilor   that  they  cannot  nor  will  not  hear  the  prayers  and. 
cries  for  mercv,  of  the  poor  captivated    creatures  ;  when 
their  eyes  are 'flowing  with  t.  .rs    md  their  backs  tncidmg 
wiih  blood,  their  oppressors  can  use  bitter  words  without. 

compassion.  , 

Stop,  and  let  us  turn  the  scale— suppose  that  you  who 
are  called  masters,  were  to  meet  with  the  same  misfor- 
tune these  poor  Africans  have— been  taken  from  your  na- 
tive land'-carried  l)y  robbers /mto  a  foreign  country,  and 
sold  to  a  master  who  would  deal  with  you  as  you  deal  with . 
your  uegroes,  (so  called)  which  injustice  hath  deuverect 


(     80  J 

into  your  hands  ;  and  your  masters  were  to  dcprivte  yfu 
ofthecompanyofyourvvi.es  all  the  vvetk,  or  a  morjtht 
and  only  get  the  liberty  to  go  aid  see  th-^m  on  a  Saturday 
night — that  by  the  love  you  had  for  them  you  should  hup"- 
panto  stay  over  the  time  given  you,  one,  two  or  three 
hours,  and  for  this  you  should  be  beaten  in -such  an  un- 
merciful manner,  as  some    of  you  have  beaten  them  ; . 

how  would  you  like  it  if  it  was  your    case?    would   you 
think  that  your  masters  did  unto  you   as   they    wc  uld   be 
willing  to  b<  done  by?  These  and  all  other  cruelties  arise 
from  bad  counsel,  and  will  have  their  reward  in  time  or 
in  eternity — ihis  is  the  wickedness  wiuch  v  dl  not  go  un- 
punished, whether  it  is  done   by  the  preacher  or    any  of 
his  hearer  ;  for  some  preachers  come  under  this  desc'rip- 
tion — they  pretend  to   be  christians,  and  |el]  .  v  opiy  that 
thty  must  do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humble  before. 
God  ;  but  they  say  one   thing  and  do  another — they  say 
we  must  do  justice  to  all  men,  but  they  are  far  from  do- 
ing it  themselves — they  also  say  we  must  love  and  show- 
mercy  to  our  fellow  creatures,    but  let  us    look   at   their 
mercy  when  the  blood  is  .rickling  down  their  poor  negro's 
back,  altho'  the  poor  sufferer  cries  and  prays    for  mercy.^ 
Let  all  such  remember,  that  they  who  do  not  show  mer- 
cy, are  to  have  judgment  without  mercy— as  they  couid 
not  show  mercy  until  they  satisfied  th<  ir  outragous   pas- 
sions, in  beating  the  poor  negro  who  had  fallen  under  their 
power,  by  the  scheme  and  advice  of  bad  counsvl,  Avhirh 
came  from  the  devil,  or  his  wicked  instrument   *'  man  ;" 
let  m.e  plainly  tell  all  such  preachers,  thaithev  are  ni:be  ter 
tiianAhab's400talse  prophets;  o.  in  other  words,  no  better 
than   the  ministers    of  antichrist ;  for  Christ,    the  Lord 
of  heaven  and  earth  and  his    ministerjr,  bring    forth  the 
fruits  of  love,  mercy  and  justice,  which   are  uot  from  the 
seed  ol  Satjin's  sowing.     But  the    ministers    v  ho    bring 
forth  such  unjust  and  barbarous    fruits,  are    he  ministers 
©f  an  antichrist,     whose  cruel  practices  gives  such  exam- 
ples, that  it  is  liovvoiider  that  so  many   of   their   hearers 
are  so  cruel  and  hard  hearted — it  is  the  blind  leading  tne 
blind,  v,-hose  eyes  Scitan   h.-^ih  bliiujfrri  by  thr   contrivance 
©f  bad  counsel. 

1  h>v'- been  unexpectedly  drawn  ro  write  these  tl  ings» 
•f  which  i  Irdd  no  thoughts  when  i  begun  to  write  my  ad- 


(      81     ) 

vice  to  my  children;  but  seeing  the  danger  arising  to 
mankind  by  following  bad  counsel,  I  could  not  forbare  to 
write  this  as  a  caution  against  it.  All  I  have  now  to  say 
is  for  you  all  to  take  notice  that  all  bad  words,  such  as 
©ursing  swearing,  lieing,  and  all  other  evils  come  from 
bad  counsel,  which  I  pray  you  all  to  shun  m  time,  least 
you  should  be  undone  forever. 

CHAPTER   V. 

The  safety  of  good  Counsel* 
HAVING  described  bad  counsel,  I  will  mention  a  lit- 
tie   about  the  safety    of    following   good  counsel,  which 
is  necessary  for  us  all  to  know.  t    ^i    ^ 

Good  counsel  is  from  the  Lord  God  of  heaven  whether 
given  internally  or  externally— it    is  for  our  salvation  as 
fcad  counsel  is  for  our  destruction— God  first  sowed  the 
'  seed  thereof  into  the  hearts  of  men,    and  there  is  no  real 
goodness  in  anything  whatsoever,  but  comes  from  him. 
By  receiving  and  obeying  the  counsel  of  the  Lord  we  are 
saved  and  brought  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ; 
but  he  who  rejecteth  and  refuseth  to  follow  God  s  counsel 
and  dies  so,  will  most  asuredly  fall  short  of  entering  hvs^ 
rest  and  peace  in  eternity  ;  therefore  I  pray  7^^/^^^ 
may  read  or  hear  this,  to  draw  nigh  to   the  God  ot  hea- 
ven, the  mighty  and  ^ood  counsellor,  who  will  give  you 
all  safe  counsel  ;  which  if  you  will  receive  and  faitntuUy 
follow,  will   bring  you  all  safe  unto   the  king  of  heaven, 
whilst  your  bodies  are  in  time,  and  your  souls  into  eter- 
nal rest  with  Christ,  when  called  to  inherit  eternity. 

The  internal  good  counsel  is  immediately  from  heaves, 
the  external  is  through  the  Lord's  instrument,  man,  wo» 
man  or  whatever  it  may  please  him  to  make  use  of,  by 
which  instrument  we  are  filled  with  the  love  of  God  tor 
mankind's  eternal  happiness.  But  in  this  sweet  and  good 
counsel,  he  sometimes  reprove,  yet  when  he  reproves,  he 
at  the  same  time  gives  us  instruction,  concerning  the 
way  leading  to  life  everlasting.  All  who  receive  and 
obey  good  counsel  are  saved,  by  receiving  the  Lord  Jes'os 
Christ,  who  is  the  author  of  all  good,  man  alone  without 
bam  cannot  give  any  good  c#uns«l,  altho'  many  people  girct 


.        -  (     82     ) 

to  their  fellow-creatures  what  they  suppose  to  be  good 
counsel,  yet  if  it  did  not  come  into  then;  by  tin-  gift  of 
God,  it  is  worse  than  no  counsel,  and  dangerous  to  re- 
ceive— there  is  none  good  but  what  comes  from  him  who 
is  the  Lord,  from  whom  all  goodness  flow  ;  and  ail  per- 
sons whose  spirits  aie  not  ruled  and  governed  by  Christ's 
spirit,  have  no  good  in  them,  they  therefore  cannot  give 
it  to  another  before  they  receive  it  from  the  Lord,  by  re- 
penting and  forsaking  their  sinlul  ways  ;  they  then  may 
be  prepared  to  receive  Christ  and  his  saving  power,  by 
which  they  are  saved  from  their  sins,  and  enabled  to  im- 
part good  counsel  to  others.  By  this  you  may  knew  that 
ail  external  counsel  coming  from  men  or  women,  (unless 
they  are  redeemed  from  the  fruits  of  the  flesh)  are  not  fit 
to  be  received  ;  for  all  who  are  offering  counsel  to  ethers 
and  yet  live  in  their  own  sins,  be  they  of  what  sort  they 
may,  whether  it  is  in  cursing,  swearing,  cheating,  de- 
frauding, extortion,  adultery,  whoredom,  theft,  or  any 
such  things  as  pride,  covetousness,  or  any  thing. .contrnry 
to  the  spirit  of  Christ ;  I  say,  that  you  may  knov/  that 
their  counsel  is  not  of  God,  and  if  it  is  not  of  God,  let  no 
one  receive  it  least  they  be  poisoned,  for  by  this  counsel 
many  thousands  are  destroyed. 

When  you  hear  any  one  offering  counsel,  let  their  pro- 
fession be  what  it  may,  the  first  thing  you  can  safely  do, 
is  to  draw  nigh  to  the  righteous  Lord  of  heaven  in  prsyer 
Rnd  supplication,  that  it  would  please  him  ta  reveal  to 
your  understandings,  by  his  immediate  and  secret  coun- 
sel, whether  that  counsel  is  from  the  Holy  Ghost  or  from 
the 'unholy  ghost  ;  for  all  counsel  is  of  the  one  or  of  the 
other.  Also,  by  the  fruits  these  counsellors  bear  you 
may  know  them,  for  the  Holy  Ghost  cannot  bring  evil 
fruits,  neither  can  the  unholy  ghost  bring  good  things'V 
yet  he  may  by  his  transformation  bring  the  likeness  of 
good  things,  and  bv  this  likeness  thousands,  I  may  say" 
millions  are  decei\  ed  and  kept  in  their  sins,  instead  of 
being  saved  from  them.  This  is,  or  ought  to  be  a  matter 
of  the  greatest  concern,  to  those  who  would  wish  to  be 
preserved  from  all  evil,  to  know  whether  the  coimsel  of- 
fered to  diem  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  is  from  God, 
or  of  the  unholy  ghost  ;  for  if  it  i8  of  the  Holy  Ghost  \t 
h  safe  and  ought  to  be  heard  and  received  by  ail — this  Is 


for  our  present  and  eternal  vvelt.jre  ;  bat  if  k  is  fVom  the 
unholy  ghost,  whctner  oftered  internully  or  rxiernally, 
let  it  appear  in  what  likeness  it  may*  there  is  poison  in  it, 
which  ail  mankind  ought  to  shun,  by  drawing  nigh  to  the 
Lord's  preserving  power  in  prayer  and  supplication. 

All  who  ojffur  counsel  and  live  under  the    government 
and  are  governed  by  the  unholy  ghost,  at  best  are  only 
thieves  and  robbers,  who  steal  the  good  words  of  other 
men  and  offer  them  as  their  own,  in  which  they  put   their 
poison  ;  for  ail  who  offer  counsel    before  Christ   is    with 
them  are  scatterers,  and  instead  of  leading  them  they  coun- 
sel, in  the  way  of  peace  and  love  with  God  and  man,    if 
not  with  words,  the/  will  by  their  example  of  life    lead 
'  them  astray — instead  of  bringing  these  poor  deceived  ones 
^  the  kingdom  of  God,    they    are  instrumental  by-  their 
xample  in  bringfng  them,  towards  the  kingdom  of  the  de- 
.  il.     By  the  following  signs  you  may  know  some  of  these 
outward  counsellors,  whether  they  are  of  the  Lord,,  sent 
in  the  iove  of  his  spirit,  with  the  gift  of  his  sweet  counsel, 
to  turn  vou  from  the  dangerous  works  of  sin   and    trans- 
gression to  the  grace  of  '  ^od,  which  doth  and  will  te:'.ch 
men  to  deny  all  ungodliness  and  the  world's  lusts,  to  live 
righteously  and  godly  in  this  present  life  ;  when  you  hear 
any  one  oflering    counsel  either  by  example   or   precept, 
fxrst  Itt  your  eyes  be  opened,    and    look    at    the    fruits 
they  bear    f-hemselves  ;    and  if  they    bear  the    fruits  of 
true  repentance   fo    *heir  past  sins — the   fruits  of  God's 
loving  spirit,  which  are  love  to  God  above  all  things,  and 
to  mankind  as  being   God's  creatures — joy  in  the   Holy 
Ghost,  whic.i  God   hath  sent  to  be  our   teacher,    whose 
counsel  is  safe  for  us  to  follow  in  the  paths  of  peace,  love 
and  goodnr-ss,  and  the   like  fruits  of  God's  spirit  are  the 
marks  of  a  t»-ue  christian  ;  for  they  who  dwell  in  goodness 
dwll  in  God,    and  God   dwells   in  them  ;    therefore  the 
"counsel  that  proceed  from  such  as   bear  and  bring  forth 
the  fruits  of  God's  spirit,    which    are  love,  joy,    peace, 
^  goodness,  faith,  meeknes'i^  retnperance,  with  equity  and 
justice  to  and  in  all  things  that  have  feeling,  life,   breath 
and  being,  whethtr  it  be  man,  beasts  or  creeping  things  j 
for    it    is   as  natural  for  them  who  are  christians,  to  do 
justice  to  all  things  that  are  in  their  power,    as  it  is  for  a 
woman  to  love  her  first  born  son.     All  who  bring  forth 


^Tiese  fruits  in  reallity  have  rect  ived  God's  counsel,  wTvo 
first  gives  it  to  his  loUowers,  to  give  it  again  to  all  who  are 
prepared  to  receive  it  ;  it  proceeds  from  that  fountain, 
the  water  whereof  gives  life  to  all  who  receive  it. 

I  pray  you  all  to  be  on  your  guard,  least  you  be  de- 
ceived so  far  ^s  to  mistake  the  likeness  of  things  for  re- 
alities, for  if  Satan  can  transform  himself  into  the  like- 
ness of  an  angel  of  light,  it  is  nothing  strange  for  his  fol- 
lowers to  bring  the  likeness  of  good  counsel,  or  of  right- 
eous members  of  Christ  ;  for  they  are  favoured  with  the 
gift  of  seeing,  hearing  and  of  memory,  by  which  they  can 
steal,  as  it  were,  the  words  of  the  righteous,  and  aftet 
the  likeness  of  good  words  to  deceive  (if  it  were  possible) 
the  very  elect  of  God  ;  but  their  words  are  only  dead 
"W'ords,  and  at  best  like  the  body  of  a  dead  man,  who  was 
4ince  active,  lively  and  sociable,  but  now  of  no  profit  t« 
any  one,  except  it  be  to  the  worms  or  some  ravenous 
beasts.  So  it  is  with  the  words  of  those  hypocritical  sin- 
ijers,  who  offer  the  words  they  have  heard  other  men 
speak,  altho'  the  first  speakers  might  have  received  those 
words  from  the  fountain  of  life,  yet  by  being  spoken  by 
such  sinful  and  poUutted  lips,  they  cannot  be  acceptable 
to  God,  because  they  are  offered  by  their  own  craft,  with- 
out the  breathing  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  for  if  the  Holy 
Ghost  dwelt  in  them  they  would  bring  holy  fi-uits,  such  as 
love,  peace  and  good  will  towards  the  children  of  men^ 
with  every  just  and  equal  things  righteeusne;;  brings  forth, 
amongst  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men.  Therefore  look 
TTfi^n  at  all  their  other  words  in  common  conversation,  ani 
at  the  example  they  set  to  others  ;  for  the  good  tree  wiH 
not  bring  evil  fruits,  neither  can  an  evil  tree  bring  fortk 
good  fruit ;  and  by  the  fruits  which  those  who  offer  coun-  ; 
selbear,  at  other  times  they  are  to  be  known  ;  for  it  is 
not  all  who  say  Lord  !  Lord  !  that  are  to  enter  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  but  only  those  who  do  the  will  of  the  God 
©f  heaven. 

Remember,  it  is  not  all  \v^  o  come  in  sheep's  clothing, 
that  are  followers  of  Christ,  but  that  some  are  ravenous 
^wolves  ;  and  Christ  has  said  that  they  are  known  hy 
their  fruits,  for  men  do  not  gather  grapes  off  thorns, 
neither  figs  off  thistles ;  therefore  when  you  see  those 
couasell<?rs  bring  the  fruits  of  the  piercing  thorn,    of  the 


(85     ) 

thistle  or  of  the  bramble,  be  on  your  ^^n^rd,  for  a  sware 
is  hiid  there  for  the  danger  of  your  souls,  and  if  such 
counsel  should  be  offered  to  you  refuse  it,  least  your 
souls  should  be  caught  therein.  By  the  folio wirij^  you 
may  also  know  them,  for  all  who  bear  and  bring  forth  the 
fruits  of  the  flesh,  are  not  risen  with  Christ  fronri  the 
^ead  neither  are  they  born  again — neither  have  they  tjkeia 
up  the  full  cross  of  Christ  and  followed  him  into  the  king- 
dom of  God — neither  is  their  affections  set  in  heaven^ 
where  Christ  is  on  the  right  hand  of  God  ;  but  their  affec- 
tions are  on  the  earth  in  the  fruits  of  the  flesh,  which  they 
continue  to  bear.  But  these  often  feign  themselves  to  be 
righteous,  which  is  one  of  the  worst  iof  all  sins,  and  shall 
not  go  unpunished  when  they  come  to  the  judgment  seat 
of  Christ — amongst  their  pretended  righteousiiess  they 
bring  forth  the  fruits  of  covetousness,  wanting  the  bene- 
fits of  other  men's  labours  v,'ithout  making  full  compensa- 
tion for  wh?tt  they  receive  in  many  cases — mind  how  they 
V'ill  try  to  get  (as  they  say)  the  best  end  of  the  bargain, 
and  to  accomplish  this  they  will  sometimes  tell  a  little  lie, 

\  or  a  big  one  if  it  suits  better  in  their  view  to  get  their  c#- 
vetmg  ends  answered.  Is  this  doing  to  others  as  they 
would  others  should  do  to  them  r  But  this  isnoti-U,  they 
will  get  in  raging  anger,  and  sometimes  curse  and  swear, 
calling  G(jd's  na  se  in  vain — commit  adul  ery  and  whore- 
dom,  some  with  black  as  well  as  with  white  women — these 

I  are  thtir  secret  sins  (as  they  think)  but  it  is  often  found 
ont,  and  is  always  known  to  God  and  their  wicked, com- 
panions, white  or  black — sometimes  getting  drunk-.— fdle 
or  lazy,  yet  they  can  eat  freely  of  the  bread  of  oih^r  men^s 
febour-— cl<jth  themselves  with  the  cloth   or  linen    ^h  ch 

i  comes  by  th-;  sweat  of  other  men's  faces,  but  ref»jse  to  la- 
bour with  industry  themselves,  often  hasty  in  passions, 
and  for  small  faults  beat  those  under  their  power,  f^-have 
it  done  unmerci fully  ;  especial'y  those  poor  captivated 
cr  i:.tures,  they  have  got  under  their  power  bv  the  hajids 
of  injustice,  and  use  them  as  tho'  God  had  made  them  to 
fee  beaten  and  punished  at  their  unmercifid  will  j  justifv- 
ing  themselves  in  their  cruel  v.  ickedness — ithev  also  justify 
war  and  bloodshed  and  hold  vith  manslaughter,  vwih  ma- 
ny oiher  evils  too  Bitmerous  to  mention.    Th«se  are  those 


1il 

(     86     ) 

Tffhe  say  Lord !    Lord  !    but  do  not  the  will  of  Christy's 
farther — these  are  those  who  will    say  Lord  open  to  us, 
for  we  have  ate  and  drank  in  thy  presence — have  cast  out 
devils,  and  done  many   wonderful  works    in   thy  name  ; 
but  Christ  will  tell  them  that  he  never  knew  them  to   live 
in  righteousness,  and  he  will  command   them  to  depart, 
because  they  ;\vere   workers  of  iniquity — these  are    those 
that  are  called  wells  without  water — these   are  those   that 
Jude  calls  wandering  stars,  to  whom  is  reserved  the  dark-  ^ 
ness  and  blackness  v/hich  will  be  placed  in  the    kingdom  * 
of  the  Beast,  with  all  the  false  prophets.     As  these  things 
are  and  will  be  so,  be  you  all  aware  of  whom  you  receive 
counsel  ;  and  remember  the  words  that  say,  be  ye   aware 
of  those  who  come  to  you  in  sheep's  clothing,  and  at  the 
same  time   are    ravenous   wolves  ;    for    all  are   not  real 
friends  who  seem  to  be  friendly,  neither  are  they  all  chris- 
tians who  are  called    by  that  blessed    name.     Therefore, 
i  pray  you  all  again  to  be  aware  of  bad  counsel,  and  cleave 
fast  to  good  counsel,  for  all  who  love,   obey    and  follow; 
good  counsel  are  followers  of  Christ  j     who  will  most  as- 
su  e  ;iy    ring  all  his  faithful  followers  safe  to  the  kingdom 
oi  heaven,  where  love,  peace  and  righteousness  wilf  meet 
together,  and  where  joy  and   gladness  will  be  forever.—  ■ 
But  now  1  must  leave  you  all  to  chuse  for  yourselves,  like 
Josh  :'*  of  old,  for  I  have  set  before  you  the  wa}  of  peace) 
anc!  rig'^'tousness,  which  if  you  will  chuse  and  follow,  id 
TV  .>    Liing  -^n  to  eternal  happiness.   I  h  ve  also  set  beror^j 
yo.  L      dange'-ous  ways  of  sin  and  transgression,  which  if|i 
it  is  your  choice  to  Fv>'iow  against  my  will,  it  w^ili  most  ?/ 
puriidiy  buiiQ  you  to  confusion  and  death.  jj 


CHAPTER   VL 

Adi^ice  to  my  sons^  concerning  their  d-ity  m  &  married  I'^Je, 

MY  d^ar  sons,  I  pray  you  all  to  coRbider  what  your 
duty  i  to  wave's  you  wives  and  not  do  like  many  ofners 
vbo  i' r.-vt  ih  ir  duty  to  arcls  God  and  man— look  at 
Bu- h  and  5  €  how  unhappy  they  live,  and  the  miseries  that 
a  ^^  oheti  broap-  t  into  their  t  \\  es  in  this  life,  for  the 
rant  cf  ft  JUthluI  duty  bci.  IJ  discharged  by  ihe  man  a» 


(  s^  ).  . 

eadofhis  family.     Altho'  his  familyis  small,  and  may 
o.t  contain  in  tlip- beginning  more    ihan  himself  and   his 
wife,  yet  there  is  a   faithlul  duty  required  of  him  ;    the 
first  thing   is  to  love  and  give  thanks  to  CtocI  for  hi  -    kind 
providence,  in  giving  him  a  woman,  who  has  now  become 
his  wife,  to  be   an  help  nare   to  lay  in  his  bosom,  and  to 
comfort  him  in  the  day^  of  distress.     O  my  sons  i    con- 
sider on  the  greatness  of  Clod's  love,  and   his  kindness  in 
jiving  us  a  loving    helpmate    for  our  glory  and  our  desi- 
rable delight,  above  every  other  creature  on  earth.      i  he 
second  step  of  duty  is   love  and  a  single    kindness   to  his 
wife.      B'lt  perhaps  some  of  you  may  want  to  know  why 
we   should  love  and  thank  God  first,  for  the  pleasure   we 
obtain  by  the  company  of  our  wives  ;  my  reason  for  think- 
ing so  is,  because  she  is  a  single  gift  of  God's  kind  provi- 
dence of  man's  pleasure  ami  comfort  in  this  life,  and  above 
6ll  other  gifts  of  God  ;  for  after  he  had  made  the  eurth  and 
^11  the  creatures  thereon,  and  had,  made  man    head   and 
gave  him    dorninion    over  them  all,    (which    was  a  very 
great  thing  indeed,  to  honor  man  so  highly  as  to  set  him 
over  all  the  earthly  things)  yea,  even  the  fowls  of  the  air, 
the  fishes  of  the  sea,  and  the  beasts  of  the  earth  were  all 
put  under  man's  power  ;  yet  after  Gc^d  had  given  him  all 
these  great  riches,  he  saw  thatthe  comfort  and  happiness 
of  man's  life  w^s  not  fully  compfete,  becaitse  there    was 
not  an  helpmate  to  be  found  amongst  all  the  creatures  to 
keep  him  company,  and  in  which  he  might  take  a  glorious 
delight — altho'  God  had  made  man  king   on    earth,    and 
placed  all  under  his  power,  yet  he  saw  that  there  might  be 
an  addition  of  riches  yet   added,  by  giving  him  a  lovely 
helpmate  to  keep  him  company  in  lonely  hours  ;  therefore 
God,  for  the  love  he  had  for  his  creature   man,  whom  he 
had  created  in  his  own  image,  was   willing  to  bestow  all 
the  riches  that  could  be  desired  in  this  life,   and  he  w^.b 
pleased  to  give  man  an  helpmate  aid  like  unto  himself,  for 
thcwoman  was  the  likeness  of  man,  being   taken  out    of 
the  man  ;  but  in  order  that  man  might  love  her  the  more. 
It  pleased  God,  and  God   saw  it   was  best  to  make   some 
'  little  alteration  in  the  form  of  her  body    from  that  of  the 
I  man,  that  she  might  l»e  distinguished  from  the  man  ;  and 
God  made  this  alteration  in  the  form  of  her  body  for  the 
single  pleasure,  deliglu  and  glory  of  man,  by  which  she  b 


(88^ 

known  and  callcl  a  v/oman.  For  all  these  favours,  I 
think  that  every  hasihand  and  every  man  on  earth,  is  in 
duty  b  Mind  to  love  and  thank  God,  who  has  given  and 
provided  for  ;n  in  all  the  lavVful  pleasures  in  tiiis  life  ;  for 
all  the  iawf'd  pleasures  m.in  enjoys,  are  the  gift  of  God's 
kind  providence,  and  a  non<rst  thiese  a  woman  is  the  great- 
est and  most  sinj^  ilar  of  lil  ;  cliere  is  no  other  gift  in  man^s 
likeness  but  the  woman,  whicti  God  of  his  free  goodness 
and  love  to  his  creature  mm,  has  given  him  for  his  com- 
p'inv  and  pleasure  in  this  life,  of  'vhica  we  are  all  born 
and  brought  forch  to  eujoy-ill  Uiosc^  la.\dul  pleasures,  until 
it  ple.ises  God  to  c:ill  all  chose  -vho  do' faithfuliv  discharge 
their  duty  m  tnis  life,  to  tie  everlastmg  pleasure  which 
God  has  prepared  for  his  folio -vers,  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven;  ail  who  do  not  God's  will  nor  discharge  their 
duty,  shall  not  enjoy  the  h.^avenly  pleasure  and  happi- 
ness prepared  for  those  who  do  discharge  their  duty  in 
this  life  to  God  and  man,  and  to^vards  all  the  creatures 
put  under  man,  for  this  is  the  will  pf  God,  that  we  should 
love  hi  n  above  all  things,,  and  our  fellow-creatures  as  our- 
selves— t)r  us  to  walk  humbly  bef:)re  him — be  merciful 
and  compiissionat-'  to  all  things  that  have  life,  breath  and 
feeling,  which  have  been  put  under  our  hands  ;  but  above 
all  these  things  we  are  to  love  our  dear  wives  and  children, 
•ur  neighbours  and  fello.v-creatures,  with  the  next  love 
afcer  God,  for,  to  be  sure,  we  owe  our  first  and  greatest' 
love  unto  God,  who  is  the  giyer  of  all  real  and  lawful 
pleasures  in  this  life — our  second  love  is  to  be  bestowed 
Gn  our  dear  wives  and  children,  our  neighbours  and  all 
our  fellow-'^reatures  — our  third  love  is  to  be  bestowed  on 
all  the  feeling  things  that  have  life,  breath  and  being, 
which  God  has  put  under  our  power  and  care. 

You  may  now  look,  my  sons,  in  what  I  have  written^ 
and  let  it  be  to  you  as  a  glass,  in  which  you  may  see  whe- 
ther you  have  discharged  your  first  dutv,  which  you  owe 
to  God  for  his  precious  gift  of  a  wife  for  your  comnanv  ia 
this  life  ; — if  you  have  complied  with  the  first  duty,  it 
will  be  your  delight  and  happiness  to  discharge  the  second,\ 
which  you  owe  to  your  wife  ;  for  if  you  love  God  vou 
"vv'iU  love  your  wife — in  the  first  place,  because  she  is  the 
gift  of  God  to  you — secondly,  because  she  was  given  to 
you  f  o  r  your  pleasure  and  company,    above  all  the  other 


gifts  of  God  in  this  life,  for  no  other  of  God*s  creature^ 
vas  lO  sleep  m  man's  bosom  but  his  wife  ;  and  she  being 
of  one  flesh  with  him,  'jnight  lawfully  couple  together  in 
the  marriage  bed,  b)  wliich  there  may  be  a  delightsome 
increase  oi  children  to  become  a  people,  for  their  glory  in 
their  children's  children  to  raise  up  a  generation  after 
them,  and  that  for  the  glory  of  God.  As  it  is  your  duty 
to  love  your  wives,  I  pray  you  all  to  bring  forth  the  frajts 
oi  love,  which  is  tenderness  and  kindiicss,  and  never  give 
your  wife  or  wives  occasion  to  think  otherwise  of  you  ; 
for  many  are  drawn  by  the  draft  of  bad  counsel,  to  give 
his  wife  room  to  be  in  fear  of  her  husband  being  slack  in 
his  duty  towards  her,  and  not  only  that,  but  that  her  hus- 
band loves  the  company  of  some  other  won- an  more  than 
her  own.  O  my  sons  !  I  pray  you  all  to  shun  these  dan- 
gers, by-  bringing  forth  the  fruits  of  true  love  and  kindness 
to,your  lawful  wife  or  wives — do  not  be  foolish  in  taking 
delight  in  the  company  of  any  other  woman  on  earth  ; 
neither  praise  any  other  for  their  beauty  ;  neither  cast 
your  eyes  too  much  towards  them,  least  you  be  ensnared 
by  the  secret  counsel  of  the  Devil  ;  neither  travel  in  their 
company  alone  by  day  nor  by  night,  for  there  is  n  dange- 
rous enemy  laying  in  the  way  of  such  lonely  travels,  tho' 
these  travels  may  be  begun  through  kindness,  yet  the 
grand  enemy  of  mankind  may  meet  you  both  in  these 
travels,  and  fall  on  you  and  the  woman  that  you  are  tra- 
velling with,  and  may  wound  you  in  the  secret  of  your 
hearts,  which  may  be  hid  from  the  eyes  of  men,  but  e^m- 
n  It  Le  hid  from  the  eyes  of  Gv^tl.  Remember  the  old  pro- 
ve-b,  *' that  opportunity  makes  thieves."  But  if  you 
should  happen  to  fall  into  the  company  of  any  other  woman 
in  you  lawful  travels,  either  by  day  or  bv  night,  and  there 
be  no  other  person  in  your  com.nany  besides  vou  two,  let 
your  prayer  and  your  cry  be  to  God,  that  it  may  please 
him  to  deliver  you  both  from  the  hand  of  that  secret  ene- 
my, who  has  prevailed  over  many  thousand*^,  and  will 
prevail  over  many  more  ;  try  with  the  help  of  God  to  de- 
liver yourselves  in  a  prudent  way  us  soon  as  possible,  and 
remember  that  no  secret  sin  can  be  hid  from  God  ;  remem- 
ber also,  that  your  beloved  wives  are  perhaps  waiting  at 
home  to  !>e  your  lawiul  pleasure  ;  and  I  recommaad -you 

H    2 


C  ^0   ) 

not  to  be  absent  from  their  company  when  there  is  no 
need  i  bat  vv^hen  there  is  real  need  tor  you  to  leave  home 
and  your  dear  wives,  lor  the  care  oi  your  business,  do  not 
absent  yoarseives  any  longer  than  yoar  business  rec^uires, 
lor  Dy  ipng  absence  your  enemy  may  raise  up  against  you, 
or  agamsc  your  wives,  and  destroy  the  happiness  which 
God  nas  given  you  and  yOur  wives  to  enj  )y,  as  a  particular 
pleasure  in  this  iife.  Look  at  ttie  bad  examples  ot  many 
a  man  and  of  many  a  woman,  causmg  so  great  distresses 
in  lamiiies,  and  shun  them  all  ;  for  it  often  brings  th« 
rage  of  jealousy  to  the  partmg  of  men  uud  their  wives, 
which  must  be  the  most  grievous  thing  on  earth,  amongst 
the  hoaest  hearted  men  and  women.  Therefore,  my  dear 
sons,  be  on  your  guard  in  all  your  actions,  ieasuhe  e'nemy 
should  get  the  advantage  so  far  as  to  mar  your  happiness, 
which  God  has  freely  given  to  all  who  love  and  fear  him' 
in  this  lire. 

But  alter  all  this  be  aware,  least  you  should  be  destroy- 
ed by  her  you  love  above  and  more  than   anv  other  crea- 
ture in  this  life  ;  remember  that  you  are  to  love  the  giver 
ot  gifts  more  than  tie  gifts  ;  yea,    i  say,  you  are  to  love 
the  giver  of  all  good  above  the   gift  that  is  given  ;  ai»d  as 
yoa  are  the  head  of  the  family,  thy  wife  isnot  to  be  above 
thee,  but  she  is  commanded  lo  reverence    thee  by  her  o- 
bi'dience  and  submission  to  thy  com  n;!nds.     But  remem- 
ber that  ail  your  commands  are  to  be  injustice,  love  and 
mercy   diat  all  you   t quire  of  them  be  also  in  tenderness, 
love  and  justice,  for  the  wife  is  not    bound  to  obey   any 
other  reqviest  or  com.nands  from   her  husband,   but  those 
that/are  just  before  God  j  remember  also  one  thing,    that 
IS  you  must  yield  to  all  your  wife's  desires    to    increase 
her  love,   as  i\ir  as  her  desires  xre    in  justice^     innocence 
and  harmless  ;  l3ut  if  her  desires  are  such  as   will  lead  to- 
sin  or  any  unjust  thing,  be  it  ever  so  small,   vet  it  is  sin, 
and  I  pray  you  all  not  to  do  it,  for  it  may  oe  a  means  of 
your  ruin;  tho' it  nay  seem  a  small  thing  commonly  done 
by  many,-  yet  if  it  is  not  just,  it  ought  not  to  be  done  ;  for 
a  little  leaven  le^.veneth  the  v^iioie    lump;  therefore   fear 
the  Lord  more  tnan  ymr  wife,    md  do  not  yield  t-.  her  de- 
sires, .vhenever  th-y  are  discovered,  to  be    contrary  to  the 
wili  ot  God  for  you    o  do  ;  tho'   it  may  grieve  you  to  the 
SQui,^tOjr.eiuse.to  satisty  thy^wifs's  desires,  remeiaber  tha^ 


(      91      ) 

all  married  women  are  not  righteous,  anci  they  who  are 
not  righteous  before  the  Lord,  are  the  most  powerful  in- 
struments that  Satan  can  use  to  ensnar*;:  your  souls  ;  for 
it  grieves  a  lovingjuisband  lo  the  heart,  to  refuse  to  oblige 
his  wife  in  what  she  may  require  of  him,  but  remember 
what  1  said,  that  the  giver  is  to  be  loved  more  than  the 
gift,  yet  tiie  giu  is  to  be  sat  much  store  by  for  the  benefit 
of  it,  and  ior  the  giver's  sake  ;  the  giver  is  the  great  God 
of  heaveu.  My  dear  sons,  I  must  now  leave  you  ull  to 
consider  on  the  foregoing  instruction,  and  pray  you  not 
to  pass  by  it  too  slightly.  May  the  Lord  make  it  as  a. 
lookmg-glass  to  you  all,  by  which  you  may  see  the  clean- 
ness or  uncleannsss  of  your  souls. 

CHAPTER  VIL 

Advice  to  my  Dau(^hters^  concerning  their  duty  in  a 
married  life. 

MY  dear  daughters,  I  now  turn  to  you,  that   you  may 
c-QHsider  on  your  duty  in  a  married  life  ;      first,    of  your 

duty    to   God    your    creator  ; secondly,    your    duty 

towards  your  husbands.  Having  nine  f  you,  (now  all 
married,)  by  one  dear  mother,  my  belo\  ed  wife,  who  haa 
brought  you  all  to  me  as  so  many  gifts  of  God  ;  1  pray 
you  to  attend  to  the  following:  your  first  duty  in  this 
station  is  to  love  God  above  ail  things — even  him  who 
made  and  brought  you  all  to  this  married  station,  and  give 
him  praise  and  thanksgiving,  for  the  favours  he.  has  and 
is  daily  bestowing  on  you  ail  in  this  life.  God- did  not 
think  it  best  to  place  you  on  the  highest  seat  of  honor  on 
earth,  or  to  give  woman  the  first  crow;n  amongst  the 
children  of  men  ;  this  he  had  given  to  man  before  the 
woman  was  formed,  and  whilst  she  remained  in  maa's 
body  ;  for  out  of  the  man's  bone,  the  woman  w^as  made, 
and  given  to  man  for  his  glory  in  keeping  his  company  in 
his  lonesome  hours.  Remember  that  thee  was  taken  out 
pf  the  man  before  thee  was  formed  ;  for  tlus  cause  God 
gave  power  to  the  man  to  be  head  of  liis  family,  and  king 
in  his  own  house.  But  as  wruian  was  taktn  out  of  the 
man,  she  became  the  secmc' person  i^-  ^uthoiitv,.and  God 
g,ave  her  to  the  man  to  bit.  hisvvife  and   company  keeper.. 


(  9a  > 

Altho'  it  pleased  God  to  g^ve  to  ihe  womaa  the  second 
s^at  ot  honor  am oi.^'St  the  children  ol  men  on  earth,  \et 
she  is  not  to  have  dominion  over  her  husband,  for  God 
has  given  him  the  kingciom  and  a  crown  over  all  he  fcs- 
-sesseth — the  woman  God  has  put  undtr  the  myn,  .-nd 
commanded  her  to  reverence  &  obey  ner  husband  in  all  his 
just  requests  and  commands — the  woman,  the  wife  of  the 
man,  unto  her  God  has  given  tiie  second  crown  ol  honor  ; 
thai  IS,  io  w^ear,  bear  and  keep  the  second  authority  under 
the  government  ol  her  husband,  as  a  Queen,  tn  set  by 
the  side^i  her  kmgiy  hubbaiid  on  the  throne,  which  God 
has  given  the  man  as  king  ovei  his  iiuie  kingdom. 

It  was  not  good  in  God's  sight  to  piaee  the  woman  over 
tile  man  ,  but  is  was  good  in  nis  sight  to  place  the  maa 
over  the  won~»aij.  It  was  for  this  cause  God  first  made 
man  tor  his  own  glory,  but  the  woman  was  made  for  the 
glor)  of  man  ;  and  as  God's  glory  is  greater  tVian  man's, 
it  pleased  him  to  put  all  things  which  he  had  n^ade  under 
the  man  :  therefore  let  it  not  grieve  any  woman,  because 
she  is  put  under  her  husband  by  her  marriage  covenant  ; 
for  the  lovely  careol  God  to  the  woman  is  such,  that  he  has 
in  a  particular  maitner,  given  command  to  every  husband^ 
to  iovc  his  wife  as  his  own  flesh,  and  as  his  own  body, 
which  she  becanie  by  the  marriage  covenant.  Tberetore, 
my  deardaiigh.ers,  it  is  }our  duty  to  love,  fear,  and  serve 
God,  by  keeping  ail  his  commanclmenls  ;  it  is  also  \;pur 
duty  to  give  God  thanks  for  the  favours  you  are  daily  re- 
ceiving in  this  life  in  eating,  drinking,  sleeping,  &c.  &c. — 
for^all  his  spiring,  healing  atsd  delivering  mercies,  (kc. 
too  many  lor  me  to  enum.erate  at  this  time,  aid  from  a 
sense  ol  his  heavenly  kindness  ;  I)  !  let  his  love  and  lear 
be  in  )ou,  ail  the  days  ol  \our  lives. 

Secondly,  yv-ur  duty  towards  your-  husbands— you 
•ught  lo  loVe  them  above  and  more  than  any  other  men  on 
earth,  and  separate  yourselves  from  their  company— be 
©niv  joined  in  the  love  and  fear  of  God  to  your  own  bus- 
bands,  and  yield  yourselves  up  to  satisfy  their  requests 
and  desires,  that  may  be  mnocent,  harmless  and  just :  lor 
by  yielding  obedience  to  them  ia a  lovely,  ol'liging,  sub- 
mitting manner,  it  must  of  course  increase  their  love  and 
kindness  t^  you,  which  will  be  better  than  silver  and  gold  ; 
for  unless y^>u  preserve  their  love  and  kindness   by  your 


(   93   y 

Irind  obedience,  your  bappmcss  will  be  greatly  marred  in 
thi-s  lite.  Remember  that  you  promised  beiore  God  and 
men  that  you  would  love,  honor  and  obey  your  husband, 
in  all  his  just  and  reasonable  commands  ;  do  not  fall 
short  of  iulfiUijig  this  premise,  tor  if  you  do,  you  will 
sin  before Tiod,  whovlias  commanded  you  to  reverence 
your  husbands  as  long  as  you  are  spared  together.  Let 
the  bad  example  of  wicked  women  be  a  caution  to  you, 
and  do  not  lirke  them,  least  it  should  prove  your  unhappi- 
ness  in  this  life  and  your  irreparable  ruin^  in  time  to  come  ; 
for  see  how  many  women  there  are  who  deprive  themselves 
ef  love  and  peace,  by  their  giving  way  to  a  raging  temper, 
by  which  they  are  hindered  from  discharging  their  duty  to 
God  and  man,  and  are  often  l*^ft  without  a  sensibility  of 
the  love  of  God  or  of  man  ;  in  this  distressed  state  there 
is  no  happiness  for  such  disobedient  women. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

^dvke  to  all  my  Children  concerning"  their  duty  t9  their 

Children, 

DEAR  children,  there  are  fourteen  of  you  in  number 
—thirteen  are  married — twelve  have  become  parents  and 
have  children  ;  1  now  will  call  your  attention,  and  pray 
you  to  consider  what  your  duty  is  towards  them.  Altho* 
they  are  the  offsprings  of  your  bodies,  yet  they  are' the 
Lord^s,  who  has  been  pleased  to.  put  them  under  your 
eare,  that  you  might  bring  them  up  in  the  fear  and  love 
of  God,  by  letting  them  know,  that  there  is  a  God  in  hea- 
ven, who  made  and  brought  them  into  being,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  them  great  blessings  in  this  life,  and  in  fu- 
turity, eternal  happiness,  on  condition  that  they  will  be 
thankful  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  favours  in  this  life— walk 
humbly  before  him — love  him  above  all  things — obey 
him  and  follow  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  whom  the  Father 
iiath  sent,  and  will  send  to  save  all  who  will  call  on  him, 
from  the  evils  of  the  world.  Let  your  children  know  that 
these  are  the  eonditirons  they  must  comply  with,  for  they 
caritiot  be  saved  on  any  other.  Altho'  the  Father  of  all 
mercies  has  given  Jesus  Christ,  bis  Leloved  Son  to  be  a 


(      94      ) 

saviour,  and  hath  put  -all  the  saving  power  in  him,  by 
which  tliere  is  a  sufficiency  to  save  all  who  ^v ill  only  yitid, 
believe,  obey,  and  follow  his  instructions,  but  altho'  he 
stands  ready  to  save  all  those  who  are  willing  to  be  saved 
by  him,  yet  the  Father  has  not  j];ivcn  him  power  to  save 
those  who  rebel  against,  will  not  believe,  receive,  nor  suf- 
fer him  to  reign  over  them  ;  such  are  not,  neither  can 
they  be  saved  by  Christ  in  so  sinful  a  condition  of  life  ;— - 
they  first  must  pass  through  the  gates  of  repentance,  be- 
fore Christy's  power  can  extend  to  their  salvation,  yet  ma- 
ny there  are,  who  neither  have  received  Christ,  nor  be- 
lieved in  him,  are  often  in  their  conversation  calling 
Christ  their  saviour,  but  every  time  they  say  so,  they  tell 
a  lie  ;  for  he  is  not  their  saviour,  nor  never  can  be,  as  long 
they  live  in  rebellion  ag-'-inst  him,  and  love  darkness  more 
than  light.  How  dare  men  say  th.it  Christ  is  their  saviour, 
unless  they  were  saved  from  their  sins ;  for  Christ  came 
»ot  to  save  any  in  their  sins,  but  to  save  his  people  from 
their  sins.  As  Christ  has  no  authority  from  h'.-s  father  to 
save  people  in  their  sins,  he  is  not  the  Saviour  of  these 
who  live  in  rebellion  against  him  ;  yet  there  is  no  power 
given  to  any  other  angel  or  spirit,  sufficient  t©  save  those 
who  will  not  have  Christ  to  reign  over  them  ;  as  Christ 
has  received  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  from  his  Fa- 
ther, if  his  Father  did  not  give  him  sufficient  power  to 
save  people  in  their  sins,  by  whom  can  they  be  saved  ?  No, 
none  can  save  them,  (not  even  Christ)  before  they  re- 
pent ;  yet  the  gift  and  calling  is  without  repentance.  What 
is  this  gift  and  calling  for,  but  to  bring  men  to  repen- 
tance ?  After  this  gift  and  calhngof  God  is  over,  if  those 
who  receive  it  will  not  repent,  they  cannot  be  saved  ;  for 
repentance  is  the  first  thing  that  God  calls  men  to  do,  as  a 
preparation  to  receive  his  salvation  ;  but  if  they  will  not 
obey,  they  cannot  be  saved.  This  may  seem  strange  doc-- 
trine  to  thousands,  but  the  time  is  hastening  on,  that  both 
sinners  and  saints  shall  find  it  true  ;  for  I  sav,that  Christ 
cannot  save  any  until  they  give  themselves  up  to  him,  and 
yield  to  the  opperation  of  his  saving  power  ;  then  Christ 
immediately  will  receive  power  to  save  them,  who  return 
to  him  in  the  way  appointed  by  God.  Thotisands  who 
call  themselves  Christ'pns,  "  may  sav  thjit  this  is  fciise 
dQctrine  j  buc  I  here  let  them  know  that  they  have  no  fel- 


(     «5     ) 

lowship  therewith — that  they  are  yet  in  their  sins — that 
they  are  not  born  again — that  they  are  strangers  to  the 
kingdom  of  heaven — that  they  know  not  the  Father  nor 
the  Son,  and  for  the  want  of  this  knowledge  they  have  n« 
fellowship  with  him.  As  things  are  thus,  I  pray  all  of 
you,  my  dear  children,  to  teach  my  dear  grand  children 
: these  things — take  them  by  the  hand  and  lead  them  to  the 
path  of  holiness,  which  leads  to  the  gates  of  heaven.  I 
beg  Had  pray  you  all  to  forsake  Egypt — leave  it,  and  take 
your  children  with  you.  From  Egypt  there  is  two  ways, 
one  leads  to  heaven,  the  other  to  hell,  and  both  are  open 
before  you;  as  1  know  and  have  experienced  them  both, 
I  pray. you  all  to  take  my  advice,  which  is,  to  walk  in  and 
chuse  tile  path  oi  holiness  with  all  my  dear  grand  children, 
which  God  has  given  to  your  care  and  keeping.  Remem- 
ber the  lamentable  hour  that  will  come  on  all  the  Egyp- 
tians, who  will  not  forsake  Egypt  and  all  her  sinful  ways 
—whose  children  will  rise  up  in  judgment  against  their 
parents,  aiid  cause  them  to  be  put  to  an  eternal  death. — 
Only  look  at  the  ways  and  manners  of  those  cruel  Egyp- 
tian parents,  who  instead  of  taking  their  children  by  the 
hand  and  leading  them  in  the  path  of  holiness,  they  haVc 
been  and  are  leading  them  in  the  path  of  wickedness, 
which  Ir^ads  to  hell — look  at  the  example  which  those 
wicked  Egyptian  parents  set  before  their  children,  both  la 
wo-ds  and  in  deeds  ;  tiiey  teach  them  the  ways  of  pride 
and  coveto'.isness,  which  is  abomination  in  the  sight  of 
G.,d — .'O  k  ai  thf^sc-  Egyptian  fathers,  who  will  go  to  some 
meetings  and  hear  some  sort  of  preaching,  they  become 
mem'o'rrs  vf  S'»me  society,  oecause  their  pride  leads  thtm 
to  do  so  —they  sliv  something  they  call  prayer  at  night, 
before  tueir  families  can  go  to  rest  (that  is,  to  bed  to 
sleep;  they  speak  some  words,  called  grace,  before  they 
or  their  familv  may  eat  at  their  tables  ;  but  if  grace  was 
no  better  than  what  they  say,  all  men  would  fall  short  of 
happiness;  for  it  is  by  grace  that  man  i$  saved,  and  they 
who  are  not  saved  by  grace  are  not  saved  at  all.  Let  us 
view  th'-m  a  little  further — -sometimes  they  will  curse  and 
swe.ir  before  tl;=ey  riee  from  their  tables,  aloout  something 
or  other,  pet'hl^pi' the  cook,  who  has  been  svveating  over  the 
he-**-  of  the  fire  to  pr^-pnre  their  food  ;  or  the  boy,  because 
he  did  iiot  run  quick  enough  with  the  cup*     Behold  tsheif 


t     96     ) 

jaging  passions,  they  can  caii  their  sons  Jog's  whelps  an=d 
rascals,  and  their  daughters  bitches  and  the  like,  cursing 
and  damning  them  in  an  unbecoming  j;nanner — they  will 
quarrel  and  fight  their  neighbours — abuse  their  wives- 
get  drunk,  commit  adultery — love  and  praise  other  womeu 
more  than  their  lawful  wives — cheat  and  defraud  all  they 
©an,  even  their  own  fathers  iithey  have  a  chance — unjust 
—-unmerciful — liars — thieves— upholding  wars — justify- 
ing bloodshed  and  oppression,  and  many  such  things  ;  y-et 
they  will  go  to  the  temple,  where  they  take  as  great  delight 
as  if  they  went  to  worship  God  ;  for'  their  pride  makes 
them  think,  that  if  they  do  not  go  to  meeting,  men  will 
have  reason  to  think  that  they  are  not  righteous  j  for  the 
Egyptians  are  zealous  for  their  worship,  altho'  it  is  an 
idle  one — there  is  no  true  worship  amongst  them,  for 
they  worship  without  the  spirit  of  Christ ;  therefore  they 
are  only  form  il  worshippers,  who  Say  Lord  !  Lord !  and 
do  not  the  things  which  the  God  of  hea>  ^.i^  requires  of 
them — neither  do  they  obey  him,  and  as  they  do  not  like 
to  put  their  necks  under  the^  yoke  of  Christ,  take  up  his 
^oss  and  follow  him,  they  cannot  be  his  disciples  ;  and 
when  God  saw  that  these  refused  to  follow  the  counsel  of 
his  Son,  he  left  them  to  follow  their  own  way  of  worships 
and  called  his  l)eloved  Son  out  of  Egypt. 

The  Egyptians    seem  to  be  very  devout  in  their  wor- 
ship, yet  there  is  none  true  amongst  tbem,  as  the  Son    of 
God  is  not  there,  for  his  father   has  called  him  into   the 
land  of  holine  s,  and  placed  him  on  his  right  hand  ;  where^ 
if  any  see  and  believe  him  worthy  to  be  worshipped,  they 
must  leave  Eg}'pt  and  all   her   sinful  ways,  and   come  to 
the  holy  land  before  their  worship  will  be  accepted,  or  -C' 
ceptable  to  my  God.     But  the  king  of  Egypt  is  so  delight- 
ed with  the  worshippers  of  the  Egyptians,  that  he  makes 
them  think  by  his  secret  praise,  that  there  is  no  worship 
as  right  as  theirs  ;'*  for  he  tei  s  them   that  they    have  the 
Tight  form  of  worship,  and  sometim-  s  he  encourages  them 
to  speak  of  the  power  of  God,  which  they  do  in  their  de- 
lighted meetings.     Thus  the  poor  captivated  sinful  crea-^, 
tures  are  imposed  upon,  like  the  people  were  in  the  day^ 
of  Simon  the   sorct-rer,  who  had  a  long  time   bewitched? 
the  people  of  Samaria,  whom  ihey  all  agreed  that  he  had  '^ 
th^  great  power  of  God.     Acts  viii  chp.    9,  10,  11   vrsf. 


(     ^7     ) 

But  how  ihty  were  mistaken,  for  their  teacher  an^  ghide 
was  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  in  the  bond  of  iniquity  ; 
tlius  it  is  with  all  the  Egyptian  preachers.  But  it  the 
love  of  the  Lord,  should  cause  his  alarming  trumpet  to 
sound- so  loud  in  heaven,  that  it  be  heard  j)y  some  Egyp- 
tians, or  some  of  the  bondagi<  seed  of  Israel,  and  be  bro  t 
to  believe  that  there  is  no  true  worship  in  all  Egypt-— 
that  they  should  be  brought  to  believe,  that  none  will  be 
permitted  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  except  the  true 
worshippers  of  God—that  there  is  no  true  worship  of  God 
in  all  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  that  God  wnll  overthrow  her 
with  all  her  idle  worship,  in  the  day  that  is  drawing  nigh. 
I  say,  if  any  should  be  brought  to  see  and  believe,  that 
■r  there  is  a  necessity  for  them  to  foi'sake  Egypt  with  aTl 
her  idle  worship,  and  that  there  will  be  no  future  happi- 
•  ness  for  them,  unless  they  forsake  her  and  go  to  the  holy 
land,  there  to  join  the  worship  of  God  in  heaven  with  the 
true  worshippers,  v:ho  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 
As  soon  as  it  is  discovered  by  the  king  if  Egypt  that  any 
of  his  subjects  are  uneasy,  and  that  they  are  not  satisfied 
.  with  the  Egyptian  sinful  worship,  he,  (the  king  of  Egvpt) 
is  in  dislike  with  them  for  their  concern  \o  leave  him  ; 
nay,  his  very  priests  are  against  such  who  have  seen  the 
necessity  of 'leaving  Egypt  with  all  her  sinful  ways  ;  and 
when  the  king  and  all  his  priests,  see  that  these  concervi- 
ed  ones  are  determined  to  go  to  the  promised  land,  and 
that  they  would  rather  leave  all  their  ill  begotten  wealth  ia 
Egypt,  than  to  stay  in  it,  and  be  excluded  from  the  hap- 
piness of  the  kingdom  of  God— when  these  concerned  ones 
•will  set  off,  by  feeling  the  drawing  of  the  love  of  God, 
and  do  take  their  journey  towards  the  promised  land,  to 
jQin  the  worship  of  C»od  with  the  true  worshippers,  who 
have  obeyed  God  and  left  Egypt  before  them  •;  I  say, 
when  the' king  of  sinful  Egypt  sees  them  set  off,  he  and 
the  rest  of  his  subjects,  or  some  of  them,  will  use  eveiy 
deceiving  means  to  hinder  them  from  pursuing  their  jour- 
ney towards  the  promised  land.  But  when  he  sees  that 
all  his  threats  and  persuadings,  will  not  prevent  them 
from  starting  off  in  their  journey,  and  finds  that  they  are 
gone  with  a  view  to  leave  his  wicked  service  forever, 
thea  he  will  raise  hia  powerrul  army  to  pursue  them  that 

I, 


(      98      ) 

are  going  to  the  promised  land,  like  it  v/as  in  the  days  o£ 
©Id. 

But  let  all  those  who  are  now  on  their  journey  to  the 
prorn'ised  land,  be  delivered  from  ail  fear — let  them  stand 
firm  in  their  faithful  endeavours,  and  they  shall  see  the 
salvation  of  God  in  the  work  of  their  souls'  salvation, 
which  they  are  now  seeking ;  for  the  king  of  Egypt  shall 
not  with  all  his  pursuing  army  be  able  to  do  you  any 
h:irm,  if  your  all  will  put  your  trusts  God  and  faithfully 
©bey  the  Lord^  for  he  will  send  his  preserving  angel  of 
light,  who  Will  stand  between  you  and  the  hosts  of  the 
Egvptlans — he  will  be  to  you  as, the  cloudy  pillar  was  to 
the  children  of  Israel,  for  he  vAW  give  you  light  as  he  did 
to  them,  by  which  they  saw  how  to  go  through  the  red 
sea  ;  but  this  light  will  be  as  darkness  to  all  the  pursuing 
lirniy  of  the  king  of  Egypt.  Therefore  I  pray  you  all  t» 
take  encouragement,  and  be  all  faithful,  like  Caleb  and 
Joshua,  who  obtained  the  blessings  which  God  gave  those 
that  entered  that  earthly  land,  which  the  faithful  received 
of  God  by  his  proniise.  But  there  are  greater  blessings 
to  be  received  in, the  spiritual  holy  laud,  which  God  has 
promised  to  all  that  holds  out  in  their  spiritual  travels  or 
journey,  until  they  enter  the  holy -land. 

1  have  now  cautioned  you  all,  my  dear  children,  least 
yoi;  be  intic^ed  to  follow  the  bad  exam ])les  of  the  Egyptian 
men.  and  women,  wiio  stand  daily  in  danger  of  an  ever- 
laF'ing  overthrow,  Tlie  Egyptians  of  old,  it  seems, 
vere  so  pro:d,  that  it  was  abomination  for  them  to  eat 
out  of  the  s^'i.e  aish  with  the  Israelites  ;  altho'  by  the 
wisdom  of  one  of  them,  (which  God  gave  him)  their  lives 
were  prestrved  in  the  famine,  by  his  laying  up  corn  for 
br(  a>'l^  aj?  ir.st^he  needful  <.iays,  without  which  they  would 
all  have  perished  ;  yet  after  all  this  great  favour,  it  was 
abomin:  tier*  tor  s  ch  proud  creatures  to  eat  with  the  Is» 
r{i  litis.  It  appears  that  this  practice  of  pride  is  kept  up, 
l»i  1=1  be  Eg-  pti  ns  oi  our  age,  for  some  are  still  in  the 
^isdajnfui  habit  of  despisir^g  to  be  seen  eating  bread  ot 
me  t.  with  those  who  labour  an  i  lay  up  corn  to  make 
bread  for  these  lordly  Egyptians  of  our  days  ;  for  many 
e)^<t;er-T.,  !iave  not  industry  enough  in  them  to  lay  it  up 
for  tire rr  fJeives,  r.nd  altho' they  rannot  suffer  their  poor 
CRptf vested  slaves  to  eat  bread  'jviih  ihem  at  their  tabks» 


(     99     ) 

yet  many  of  these  proud  delicate  beings,  will  go  to  the 
bed  of  the  despised  negroes,  both  male  and  fi^male,  and 
commit  adultery,  whoredom,  and  mingle  their  seed  with 
those  they  will  not  S'.iifer  to  set  down  at  their  tables  and 
&at  bread  with  them.  O  my  soul  !  flee  from  all  their 
wicked  habitations  ;  and  you  my  dear  sons  and  daughters, 
look  at  the  increase  of  their  mingled  aeed,  which  is  be- 
come a  generation  of  malatoes,  whose  multiplication  is 
so  great  already  that  it  seems  in  pursuit  of  time,  it  may 
destroy  all  the  real  white  blood  out  of  our  parts  of  Ame- 
rica. 

1  wish  you  now  to  turn  your  eyes,  and  behold  the  bad 
examples  of  the  Eg\-ptian  women  ;  let  it  teach  you  to  for- 
sake their  wicked  ways,  for  many  of  them  are  mothers  of 
tender  children  who  lie  in  their  arms,  being  yet  innoctrit 
babes,  neither  knowing  the  path  of  heaven,  nor  the  patb 
of  hell,  but  are  under  the  care  of  those  parents  like  Jesus 
"was  in  the  arms  of  his  mother,  when  Joseph  carriedihem 
both  into  Egypt  ;  but  these  Egyptian  women  are  notli^ve 
the  wire  of  Joseph,  the  mother  of  Jesus,  for  when  the  an- 
gel of  God  appeared  to"" Joseph  in  a  dream,  and  bid  hi^n 
return  and  bring  the  young  child  Jesas  and  his  mother 
out  of  Egypt,  she  yielded  obedience  to  the  voice  of  her 
husband,  went  out  of  Egvpt,  took  the  young  child  with 
them  and  brought  him  into  the  land  of  Israel^  in  whicK 
the  young  child  continued  until  he  finished  all  the 
works  which  his  father  had  given  him  to  do — until  it 
pleased  God  to  place  him  on  his  rigtit  hand  on  his  heaven- 
ly throne  ^  for  altho'  he  was  his  son,  even  the  son  of  God, 
and  altho*^  he  did  not  transgress  whilst  in  heaven,  in  his 
father's  glory,  which  he  enio-.-edbeforehe  entered  that  lit- 
tie  body,  prepared  by  his  father  of  the  seed  of  the  'vo- 
man  in  the  bowels  of  Mary  his  mother  ;  he  did  not  leave' 
his  father's  kingdom  by  his  own  will,  against  the  will  of 
his  father,  for  it  is  evident  that  it  was  the  M'ill  of  his  fa- 
ther that  he  should  come  into  this  worM  :  he  came  not 
of  himself,  bat  his  father  sent  him,  therefore  it  vvas  ncr 
transgression  for  him  to  leave  his  glory  with  his  father 
and  come  into  this  world,  for  his*^usiness  was  to  do  his 
father's  will,  and  to  finish  the  work  which  his  father  ha^i 
giv^n  hi  n  to  do  ;  that  was  to  prepare  the  wav  o?  s^'^lv:;  ion 
for  all  that  would  take  up  their  cross  and  follow  his  exam  ■ 


(      100     1 

pie  every  steps.  This  work  he  was  to  finish  before  he 
could  return  to  his  father's  giory,  \Vhich  he  had  with  him, 
before  he  entered  in  this  world. 

Christ's  first .  station    and    birth  was  in  Bethlehem,   o£  , 
Judea,  where  he  was  nourished  by  th& providential   care^' 
of  his  father,  by  the  hand  of  his  mother  and  Joseph    his 
supposed  father,  who  took  on  him   the  parent's   care    by 
the  instruction  of  the  angel  of  God;   there  he  remained 
until  his  parents,  carried  him  down  to  Egypt,   and  remain- 
ed there  imtil  the  angel  of  God  appeared  with   orders 
for  his  supposed  father  to  return,  and  bring  the  child  Jesus 
and  his  mother  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  into  the  land 
of  Israel,    where   he  might  be  a   Nazarite  before   God  ;  | 
which  is  a  true  figure  of  v/hat   I  call  the  fourth  station  o$ 
all  lihat  become    christians  in  this  life — it  is  in  this  statioji^ 
he  was  to  nnish  all  the  work  which  his  father    had  giveft, 
him  to  do — altho'he  was  the  son  of  God,  and  had  never 
transgressed,  yet  there  was  no  possibility  of  his  returning  - 
to  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  glory  of  God,  which  he  had 
before  be  came  into  the  world,  before  he  finished  the  work 
\>'hich  his    father   had  given  him  to  do  ;    as  soon  as    he 
irtiished  that  work,  he  bowed  his  head,  and  afterwards-  he 
bid  this  world  in  body  adieu  ; — his  father,  at  the  appoint* 
ed  time,  raised  him  above  all  his   enemies  in  this  world, 
and  restored  him  to  the  glory  he  had  before  he  came  into 
this  siiiful  world.     What  may  we  learn  by  all  this  ?    The 
first  thing  we  may  learn  is,  that  Christ  did  not  come  into 
Bethlehem  of  Judea,  of  himself,  but  his  father  sent  him. 
Secondly,  he  did  riot  go  down  into  Egypt  of  himself,  but 
his  parents  carried  him  ;  and  thirdly,  that  he  did  not  tra- 
vel out  of  Egypt  of  his  own  accord,  before  his  father  call- 
ed for  him  and  his  parents  to  come  out  of  it  into  the  land: 
of  Israel,  where  he  might  be  called  a  Nazareen,  in  which 
station  he  was  to  do  his  father's  will,  thac  is,  the   will  oi 
God;  being  in  the  land  of  Israel,  which    God  had  given 
to  the  Israelites  by  promise. 

Now,  v/hat  ••o  these  four  different  station  of  Christ's 
life  point  out  to  us,  whilst  we  are  in  this  world?  Perhaps  • 
my  dear  children  would  be  willing  to  hear  my  opinion  be- 
fore they  would  give  theirs  ;  well  then,  I  will  show  my 
opinion,  which  the  Lord  hath  given  me — I  have  not  re- 
ceived it  of  man,    for  X  have  no  knov/ledge  of  any  thing 


(      101     ) 

^>ut  what  I  have  received  of  God  ;  therefore  it  is  not  minej 
but  it  is  the  Lord's,  who  gave  it  to  me  to  give  it  to  all 
that  can  receive  it  j  to  begin  : — Christ's  first  station  whilst 
in  the  land  of  Judea  in  Bethlehem,  it  is  a  figure  of  our 
first  station  of  life,  wherein  v/e  breathed  our  tirst  in  this 
world  of  time.  Now  he  did  not  bring  himself  there,  buc 
5t  was  his  father  which  sent  him  there,  so  he  was  inno- 
cent and  harmless  whilst  he  was  there,  so  he  was  always. 
This  is  a  figure  of  our  first  station  in  this  world  of  time, 
for  we  did  not  bring  ourselves  into  our  first  station,  but 
the  great  God  of  heaven  created,  made  and  placed  us 
there  ;  as  Christ's  first  station  was  innocent,  it  was  a  figure 
of  our  first  station  of  life  before  we  eat  die  forbidden  fruit, 
'for  until  then  we  were  innocent  and  harmless  beings,  in 
the  image  of  God,  like  unto  Jesus,  who  is  and  was  the 
son  of  God,  and  who  for  his  obedience  is  returned  to  all 
his  father's  glory,  which  he  kept  for  him  against  the  day 
of  his  return,  and  for  all  who  become  his  faithfull  follow- 
ers into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  His  second  station  was 
going  into  Egypt  and  dv/elling  there  ;  now  Jesus  did  not 
go  down  into  Egypt  by  himself,  nor  of  himself,  it  was  hifi 
parents  that  carried  him  there,  but  he  did  not  learn  to 
commit  or  do  any  of  the  wicked  things  of  that  land.  What 
is  that  station  a  figure  of  whilst  Jesus  was  in  Egypt  ? — 
It  shows  our  second  station,  wherein  we,  after  eating  the 
forbidden  fruit,  we  were  carried  down  by  our  parents  into 
spiritual  Egypt,  v/here  the  misfortune  of  children  is  often. 
'  very  dangerous,  for  the  tvant  of  such  parents  as  Joseph 
and  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus  were,  for  akho'  they  went 
down  and  staid  a  while  in  Egypt,  yet  they  did  not  become 
Egyptians  like  many  children's  parents  do  in  our  d  ;ys, 
for  many  who  are  mothers  of  children,  andraam^who  are 
fathers  in  our  days,  instead  of  following  the  example  of 
Joseph  and  Mary,  the  mother  of  that  tender  child  Jesus, 
they  choose  to  follow  the  example  of  the  Egyptians,  in 
'■  putting  or  trying  to  put  the  IsraelitesV  children  to  death  ; 
in  thtsedays  the  death  of  the  Isr*,  lites'  children,  v/hich 
the  Egyptians  wanted  to  destroys  svas  only  the  death  ofihe 
body,  but  the  Egyptians  in  these  our  days,  seem  to  try 
to  destroy  the  spiritual  seed  of  God,  by  their  wicked  ex- 
amples of  words  and  deeds,  by  which  they  take  this  tea^ 

I  2 


(      1"2      ) 

derseed,  which  came  into  this  world  n®t  of  themselve^i : 
but  God  hath  sent  them  into  that  little  body,  and  prepar- 
ed by  the  seed  of  the  man    being  the    father  of  the  little 
mortal,  and  of  the  seed  of  the  woman  which  God  prepar- 
ed in  her  secret  chamber,  congealed  together,  until  it  be- 
came a  babe  in  its  mother's  womb,  and   by  God's  unseen 
work,  its  little  body  is  formed,  compacted  together  and 
strengthened,  to  enable  its  passage  into  this  world,  thro? 
the  narrow  door  of  the  secret  chamber   of  its   mortal  mo- 
ther f  when  brought  forth  it  is  either  a  male   or  a  female, 
a  temple  f(.r  the  seed  of  God  to  do  his  will  in  ;  altho'   its 
first  appearance  is  like  Jesus',    it  is  not  kept  so  long,    for 
in  the   space  of  two  or  three  years,    the   mother  being  an  < 
Egyptian  woman,  living  in   Egypt,    begins    to  learn  the 
poor  innocent  babe  her  Egyptian  ways,  for  many  of  these 
mothers  are  in  the  practice  of  ail  evils,    and  they    cannot 
be  more  wicked  than  they  are  ;    this  may  seem  to  some 
people  that  this  must  be  a  lye,  for  the  people    could  be  a 
great  deal  worse  than    they  are  ;    but  they  that   think  so 
are  without  the  knowledge  of  the    restraining  power   of 
God,  for  if  that  was  taken  from  all  men  and  women,  thea.-^ 
the3;^^ould  commit  more  evils  than  they  do,  for  the    re- 
straining and  preventing  grace  of  God^is  a  very    strong 
chain,  which  men  and  women  cannot  j&tretch  any  farther 
than  God  suffers  them  to  do,  bui  if  they  could  stretch  it, 
the  sins  of  the   people  of  Egypt   woulcJ   be   greater  than 
they  are  at  this  time  j  if  God  were  to  let  men  and  women 
go  as  far  in  wickedness  as  their    wicked   thoughts,  their 
coveting  desires  and  revenge,  they  would    actuaiiy  do  lU 
I  ask  those  that  think  that  mankind  pould  be   worse  than 
they  are,  if  they  can  teil  what  woaian  could  be   found  on 
earth,  tint  would  be  a  virgin  at  the  age  oft>wenty  years? 
-—how  many  would  there  be  alive    at  the  age  of  manhood  . 
or  womanhood? — how   manv  more  murders  would  there 
be  committed;  by  the  spirit  of   revenge  ? — how    many    is 
there  amongst  us  but  what  would  be  robbed,  if  th^y  ha  1 
any  thing  to  be  robbed  ^f  ?      Bat  you  will    say  th^it  is 
the  law  that  prevents  alt  this,  for  you  must  confess  that  _ 
if  there  was  no  law,  wickedness  would  manifest  itself  in  " 
tk  greater  degree  than  it  does  at  this  time  ;  if  you  do  be- 
Heve  this,  you  must  agree  with  me  that   me  a  :\nd  wonien 
vrho  lives  an  Egyptian  life,  -^Tc  as  wicked  as  ihey  can  be  ; 


(      103      ) 

if  there  was  no  law  to  pmiish  transgressions,  you  all  allow 
that  there  would  be   many  more   wicked  deeds  done  thai! 

.'are  now  done,  for  tear  of  their  being  punished  by  the  law  ; 
this  we  in\y  have' reason  to  believe  from  this  one  thing 
which  often  h  ippeneth  in  our  land,  when  there  ariset  i  a 
dift'erence  between  two  men  or  more,  &  the  rage  of  pas- 
sion desireth  revenge,  he  that  is  subject  to  it  says  to  his 
fellow -creature,  *'  only  clear  me  the  law,  that  is  all  the 
favour  I  ask  of  you  ;"  »/e  must  allow  if  it  was  not  for  the 
law,  which  prevents  such  a  raging  madman,  he  would  re  • 
venge  himself  in  beating  his  feilow-creature  if  he  had 
strength  enough  to  do  it,  on  that  man  of  whom  he  asked 
that  favour  ;  (as  he  called  it)  but  the  man  will  not  grant 
him  that  request,  therefore  he  is  restrained  from  beating 
him,  because  hewould  not  say  that  all  law  was  clear.  Now 
what  was  it  that  kept  this  man  from  his  remengeful  desire 
but  the  iaw,  which  God's  restraining  and  preventing  grace 
has  a  share  in  making  ;  for  all  governmental  laws,  are 
made  to  deter  and  keep  people  from  committing  gross 
evils,  in  which  the  grace  of  God  has  certainly  a  hand  in 
the  making,  and  if  a  hand  in  making  such  laws,  it  is  his 
restraining  grace,  which  prevents  men  and  women  from 
breaking  them  any  more  than  they  are  ;  take  all  laws  away, 
and  we  shall  live- in  the  land  of  barbarism  indeed.  Now 
the  strong  chain  is  stretched  so  far  as  to  bring  many  a  man 

^•and  woman  to  l>e  punished  in  the  penitentiary,  in  prisons 
and  on  the  gallows  by  hanging,  for  their  trying  to  breaS: 
this  blessed  chain,  which  prevents  so   many  people  Irom 

'doing  the  evils  which  the  devil  and  their  own  lusts  would 
lead  them  to  do,  and  would  actually  do,  if  this  blessed 
chain  of  God's  preventing  grace  was  utterly  taken  away  ; 
biit     thig     blessed     chain     of     G^d's     restraining    grace 

,'  remains  in  our  land,  especially  tltut  pan  of  it  which  God 
has  planted  by  his  own  hand,  in  our  own  hearts. 

/Vickedness  often  acts  like  a  thief,  for  he    is  afraid  to 
act  in  the  light  of  the  day,  for  fear  he  shou  dbe  seen  ;  but 

^  tak^way  the  internal  and    external    chain  of   God's   re- 

-  straining  grace  from  this  land,  which  is  called  by  the  hon- 
orable, name  of  a  christi  m  land,  you  would   soon    see  that 

,   that  there  would  be  but  very  few  among;st  us  that  would 

^  bear  the  mirks  of  a  christian  ;  f)r  the  aeceiving  cloak  of 
relijion  would  soon  be  thrown  oiT,  and  robbi^ry  and  open 


(      104     ) 

wickedness  would  soon  take  place  ;  for  even  now,  whilst 
the  preventing  grace  is   in  power     amongst    us,       many 
are  so  hardened  in  the  practicable  habit  of  their  sins,   that 
they  are  nut  ashamed  to  commit  open   wickedness  ;    how 
xnuch  more  would  they   commit  it  there  was  nothing   to 
restrain  them,  nor  to  make  them  ashamed  ?     Therefore, 
my  deai  sons  and  daughters,  1  pray  you  to  attend  to  the 
restraining  grace  of  God,  both  internally  and  externally^.  ~ 
and  it  will  keep  you  from  following  the   bad  example  of 
those  wicked  Egyptians,  both  of  men  and  women,  whose 
evils  are  daily  manifested    before  our  eyes,    for  many  of 
them,  that  is,  those  Egyptian  women,  have  departed  from 
the  kindness  which  they    owe  to  their   husbands,  and  to 
their  children,  and  have  become  like  the  fire- flying  serpent, 
who  bit  the  children  of  Israel  when  they  were  travelling 
to  the  promised   land.     How  many  loving  ^usbands  and 
tender  childr^en  have  been  bitten  to  the  heart  by  these  fool- 
ish Egyptian  women,  who  seem   to  have  some    kindness 
for  their  husbands  and  to  their  children,  when  their  neigh- 
bours come  in  or  are  by,    but  as  soon  as  they  are  gone 
there  is  scarcely  any  end  to  their  hissing   tongues,  with 
which  they  bite    like  the   fire-flying  serpent,  for  they  fly 
from  one  thing  to  another  in  mad    passion  to    their  hus- 
bands, and  as  the  saying  is,  they  are  never  satisfied  with 
their  husbands,  neither  full  nor  fasting,    let    them  be  as 
kind  as  they  may,  still  their  is  no  content  in  them,  but  are 
daily  rough,    harsh  and  snappish  to  their   husbands  and 
to  their  tender  children.     Instead  of  leading  their  tender 
children  in  the  path  of  love  and  peace,  they  lead  them  in 
the  paths  of  anger  and  provocation^  until  the  tender   chil- 
dren lose  all  sight  of  the  path  of  love,    which  God  hath 
made  for  all  children  to  walk  towards   their  parents  ;  this 
is  natural  in  all  childrei^at  the  first  steps  of  their  lives   in 
this  world,  to  walk  in  the  right  path  of  love   whi  h  God 
hath  made,  towards  their  parents,  but  these  unreasonable, 
hard-hearted,  rash-worded    mothers,  often     drive  their 
tender  children  out  of  the   path  of  love,  into  the    hateful 
paths  of  rebellion  and  anger,  wherein  all   lovely    tender 
jiffection  is  lost  by  the  children,    and  they    then  cai:e  not 
much  more  for  their  mothers    than  if   they  had  norfcorne 
them  in  this  world  ;    and  from  the  dreadful    example  of 
their  mothers'  words,. the  children's  lovely  affections  ar« 


(     105     ) 

'^estrcn-ed,  and  are  bro't  to  want  their  parents  dead  ;  thu5 
instead  of  goin^  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  with  their  hus- 
bands and  children  to  the  promised  land  out  of  Egypt, 
like  ]Mary  the  wife  of  Joseph,  (who  was  the  mother  of  that 
little  body  that  was  called  Jesus)  did,  instead  of  doing  as 
that,  obedient  woman,  they  ^o  in  the  broad  way  of  destruc-^ 
tion,  which  often  destroy  all  good  desires  that  would 
bring  forth  good  things  in  their  husbands  and  children,  if 
it  was  not  destroyed  by  their  bad  examples. 

My  dear  daughters,  I  pray  you  ta  be  obedient  lovers 
of  your  husbands,  and  lovers  of  your  children,  and  go 
li^e  Mary  the  wife  of  Joseph  did  -,  yea,  I  pray  you  all  to 
be  like  that  obedient  loving  wife,  (the  mother  of  Jesus) 
was,  who  went  with  her  husband  and  took  her  young  child 
out  of  Egypt,  and  went  into  the  land  of  Israel,  where  the 
young  child  jj  sus  might  grow  up  to  do  the  will  of  God« 
I  say,  be  you  all  like  unto  this  blessed  woman — go  all  of 
you  out  of  the  wicked  Egyptian  ways,  go  with  your  hus- 
bands, and  take  your  dear  children  with  you,  into  the 
land  of  holiness,  where  you  may  all  do  the  will  of  God^ 
who  will  be  the  father  of  all  that  enter  into  the  fourth  sta- 
tion, where  the  worship  o£  God  is  pure  as  the  Lord  is 
pure.  Now  my  dear  daughters,  if  you  will  only  take 
my  advice  and  begin  your  journey  with  your  husbands 
and  children,  when  you  come  into  the  holy  land  all  God's 
people  who  are  there,  will  love  &  praise  you,  God  himsejj? 
will  love  and  honor  you^  and  give  you  pleasure  in  your 
present  life  time  here,  and  in  futurity  he  will  give  you 
everlasting  happiness  ;  which  is  the  desire  of  my  soul  for 
all  of  you  my  dear  children,  and  for  all  the  people  on  earth, 
of  every  colour  ;  my  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  all 
might  repent  and  forsake  all  sinful  Egvptian  ways,  and 
that  all  might  come  up  to  the  land  of  holiness,  there  to 
abide  until  it  pleases  God  the  gather  them  as  his  sheep^ 
and  place  them  on  his  right  hand,  to  tlie  end  of  time, 
Amen, 


CHAPTER  IX. 

On  the  afore  ordination  of  God^  by  a  supposed  secret  counciL 

I  find  it  my  duty  to  say  something  more,  which  I  had 

»o- thought  of  doing  until  this  day  ;  that  is  to  drop  some 


(    icfs    ) 

•words  to   caution  you  against  the  dangerous    opinion   of 
many,    vyho  by  their  confession  of  faith   declare,  that    the 
just  and  merciful  God,  the   master  of  heaven   and  earth, 
has  decreed  by  the  secret  council  of  his  own   will-— hath 
afore  ordained  all  things  whatsoever  that    comes  to  pass, 
and  that  by  God's  eternal   decree,    a  certain    number  of 
mankind,  or  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men    are  to  be 
saved,  and  that  all  the  rest  of  mankind  shidl  be  lost.     In 
the  book  of  their  confession    of  faith   it  is  said,    that  the, 
number  is  so  certain  and  definite,  (if  I    remember   right) 
that  there  is  no  possibility  of  adding  to  the  number,  nor 
any  possibility    of    diminishing   it;     if  this  was  possible 
to  be  true,  we  should  n^:  have   had  any  need   of  Christ's 
c?oming  to  be  our  Saviour,  for  that  decree,    which    they 
say  was  established  by  God  and  his  secret  council,  before 
man   was  made  or  brought  into  being  ;     I  <^  y,    that  this 
council  if  true,  gave  that  decree  all   the   power   of  man's 
salvation,  and  that  Jesus  born  of  that  woman  espoused  to 
Joseph,  who  carried  Jesus  and  his  mother  into  Egypt,  and 
bro't  them  back  ao^ain  into  the  land    of  Israel  ;   I  say,  by 
that  confession  of  faith,  if  it  could  be  a  true  one,  it  v/ould 
make  it  an  impossible  tiling  for  that  same  Jesus,  who  WcV^ 
crucified  and  hung  on  the  cross  to  be  our  Saviour,  or  that 
he  had  anv  saving  power  in  him  ;  because  God  had  vested 
all  the  power  in  that   decree,    which    was  to   save  such  »• 
Rumher  who  are  called  God's  elect,  ai^d  to  damn  all  the 
rest  of  mankind.     O  !  abhored  doctrine,  for  it  cannot  pos  ■ 
sibly  be  true,  and  if  not  true  it  must  take  its  origin    from 
the  rays  of  the  false  light,  which  leads  men  into  wrong  ideas 
concerning  the  things  of  God  and  man's  salvation  ;  these 
wrong  ideas  have  led  them  to  put  a  wrong  construction  on 
the  holy  scripture,  it  is  the  ensnaring  work  of  the  Devil, 
to  prevent    mankind  from  calling  on   the  name  of    Jesus 
Christ  for  his  aid  in  their  salvation,  for  they  believe  in  the 
decree  and  in  an  impossibilitv  of  altering  it,  therefore  they 
must,  in  this  belief,  live  without  any  other   saviour  than - 
the  power  of  that  decree,  by  which  they  say  that  man  is 
to  be  saved  or  lost,  bv  God*s  ordination  before    man  was  ^ 
made  or  former!,  and  placed  in  the  garden  of  Fdesii^    But 
my  dear  children,  I  pray  vou  to  shun  such  dangerous  be- 
lief for  this  reason  ;  this  opinion  and*^elief  in  such  a  de-  . 
cree,  if  it  was  true,  would  make  out  my   pure  and  holy 


'i  (     107     ) 

i'fiocl  whom -I  desire  to  serve  m  the  spiritual  p©wer  a»d 
k)ve  of  Christ,  which  he  hath  given  me  and  to  all  his 
faithful  followers,  I  say,  that  such  a  faith  would  make  qut 
that  my  God  foredecreed  the  sins  of  all  mankind,  that 
«yer  were  or  ever  will  be  committed,  and  that  Christ  has 
no  power  to  save  those  who  repent  and  believe  the  gospel 
from  their  sins,  which  would,  iv  it  was  true,  make  all 
the  Apostles,  ministers  of  Christ,  and  Christ  himself  to 
be  liars  ^  for  they  have  said  that  there  was  not  any  other 
name  given  under  the  heavens,  by  which  men  may  be  sav- 
ed, but  only  by  the  name  and  power  which  God  has  given 
to  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  "Christ  himself  says,  (as  it 
is  written)  that  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth  was  givea 
to  him,  waich  would  be  a  lye  if  the  decree  still  holds  the 
power  to  siive  such  a  number  of  mankind,  let  their  deed^ 
|)e  what  they  may  ;  and  power  to  damn  the  rest.  I'bis 
di>ctrine  cuts  off  the  ofF^rof  salvation  to  all  mankind  by 
Christ,  why  should  it  be  offered  by  him  if  there  is  nd 
other  salvation  but  that  which  "Comes  by  that  decree  ;  for 
8urely,'ns  Christ  who  is  all  wise,  and  has  the  keys  c.f  the 
fountain  of  understanding,  so  far  out  of  his  senses  as  t© 
offer  and  call  all  trie  ends  of  the  earth,  (meaning  man)  ta 
ht  saved,  if  he  had  not  power  to  save  all  that  looked  or 
came  unto  him.  I  novv  desire  v^  know  why,  or  for  what 
such  a  certain  number  of  mankind  must  be  damned,  by 
that  decree  or  secret  council  of  God's  fore  ordination, 
and  that  without  the  offer  of  grace,  for  there  could  not 
possioly  be  any  grace  aiTered  to  those  th-^t  the  decree 
da.Ti!is,  before  the  said  decree  was  passed,  and  it  beiiig 
of  ai  unalterable  and  unchangeable  nature  ;  what  foolish  a 
thing  vv^ould  it  be  of  God  to  offer  them  salvation  by  Jtbus 
Christ,  knowing  that  his  decree  prevented  them  tVom  re- 
Ctivingany  other  saivatjoo,  except  what ;  ame  by  his  de- 
cree, and  as  the  decree  should  have  been  made  before 
tna.i  was  made,  or  formed  out  of  tlie  dust  of  the  earth, 
and  oefore  God  breathed  the  breath  of  life  in  him,  or  be- 
fore mi»n  became  a  llvihg  soul.  Now  if  the  doctrine  of 
the  decree  is  true,  I  desire  to-know  vvh),^  C^od  should  be  so 
parti  d  and  unjust,  as  to  chuse  out  and  make  a  certain 
nuaiber^r  bis  race,  and  damn  all  the  rest,  who  had  done 
neither  good  nor  evil  ;  but  accdi-ding  to  this  decree  God's 
i  secret  council  fore-orJiaiaed  these >  and  all  the  witkedness 


that  man  oc  woman  commits,  in  order  that  these  >viclce^ 
Creatures  should  be  damned,  but  is  it  not  dangerous  lo  charge 
God  who  is  just  and  merciful  to  all,  sends  rain  and  fruit- 
ful seasons  unio  all,  and  causes  his  sun  to  shine  on  all 
^ith  such  impartiality  f  when  it  is  declared  that  he  is  no 
respecter  of  persons  that  work  righteousness,  amongst  all 
nations.  But  you  may  say  that  the  decree  has  prevented^ 
all  that  great  number  from  working  righteousness  ;  but 
how  does  all  this  agree  with  the  lamentations  of  Christ  over 
Jerusalem,  when  he  said  how  often  he  would  gather  them 
as  a  hen  gathered  her  chicks,  or  her  brood  under  her  wings, 
but  they  would  not  ;  by  this  you  all  may  see  the  reason 
that  any  are  damned  ;  it  is  not  by  any  afore  decree  of 
God,  but  it  is  because  they  will  not  accept  his  salvation. 
Again,  I  must  ask  why  these  should  be  damned  before 
they  w^ere  made?  w^as  it  for  doing  that  which /God  had' 
decreed  that  they  should  do,  under  the  penalty  of  death, 
for  their  damnation  must  come  by  one  of  these,  as  some 
say  that  God  decreed  all  things  that  come  to  pass.  'Now 
i.f  God'did  decree  all  things  that  conies  to  pass,  why 
should  people  be  damned  for  only  doing  what  God  had  de- 1 
creed  them  to  do  ?  that  the  offsprings  of  heaven  *should 
be  damned  for  their  obedience,  in  doing  what  God  de- 
creed them  to  do,  seems  quite  contrary  to  the  very  name 
df  a  merciful  God  ;  yea,  it  is  contrary  to  the  name  of  mer- 
ciful men,  much  more  to  the  name  of  a  merciful  God.  As 
it  is  said  that  God  did  decree,  and  that  for  his  own  glory, 
all  things  whatsoever  that  come  to  pass,  he  must  have  de- 
creed all  the  evils  that  ever  were  committed  in  the  world, 
«r  else  they  would  not  come  to  pass,  for  all  the  following 
evils  have  come  to  pass,  and  if  God  has  decreed  all,  he' 
must  have  decreed  that  men  should  and  women  should  do 
these  evils,  for  how  could  it  be  otherwise,  seeing  that 
God  had  decreed  it  for  them  to  do  as  they  ha\  e  done; 
even  these  evils,  evil  thoughts,  from  which  nearly  all  o- 
ther  evils  come,  such  as  adultery,  whoredom,  murders, 
thefts,  covetousness,  vile  passions,  evil  eyes,  quarelling, 
fighting,  oppressions,  backbitings,  ntws-carriers  to  stir  up  . 
strife,  liars,  mischief-making,  dissatisfaction,  with  every  ^ 
other  evils  done  under  the  sun.  Now  the  question  ou-^ht 
to  be  decided,  that  people  might  no  longer  be  imposed  in 
mind  about  the  decrees.      Therefore  I  will  ask  whether 


(      109     ) 

•HGod  hns  called    any  ol  these  to    repent,  that    have    been 
guiltv  of  any  such  evils,  seeing  that  they  only  obeyed  him 
in  his  decrees  ?      If  God  had  decreed  thS^se  things  to  be 
done,  it  cannot  be  denied  but   that  God  has  called    sonie 
of  them  to  repentance,  and  if  the  above  evils    were  done 
in  obedience  to  God's  decrees,  I  desire  to  know  why  God 
should  call  them  to  repentance,  when'they  were  only  do- 
ing the  things  he  had  decreed  them  to  do  ;  I  see  no  rea- 
son for  God's  calling  them  to  repentance  for  their  obedi- 
ence to  his  will,  for  it  must  be  God's  will  that  men  should 
do  these  evils,  if  he  did  decree  it  to"*  be  done.      Now  if 
.men   are    called  to  i%)entance,  and  certainly  they  are,  for 
it  is  said  "  repent  and  believe  the  gospel,"  and  also, ''  ex- 
cept the}^  repent    they  shall  all  likewise  perish  ;"    that  is 
lose  a  life  of  happiness  in  the  kingdom  of  God.     Wa^  it 
for  their  obedience  or    for  their    disobedience,    that  God 
called  men  to  repent  ?  it  must  be  either  for  their  obedience 
in  doing  these  abominations,  or   for  some  disobedience  ; 
I  say,   it  must  be  for  .he  one  or  for  the  other  ;  and  reasoh 
proves  according  to  such  doctrine,  that  they  who  do  such 
evil  crimes  only  do  what  God   had  decreed  them  to  do ; 
,    .yet  there  have  been  some  few  people  i^  all  ages,  who  have 
.repented  for  doing  any  of  tb^^e  evils  and  have  utterly  re- 
.  .'fused  to  follow  the  eSyample  of"  those  people,  who  to  this 
^  day  are  in  the  full  habit  of  doing  these  evils,  to  the  grref  of 
>,  God's  spirit  and  mine.      I  also  desire    to   knov/  whether 
they  that  do  these  evils    are  the  chost  n   elected  number, 
v;ho,are  to  be  saved  according  to  the  doctrine  of  the  de- 
cree, or  whether  it  is  that   number  among  mankind  v/he 
^"epent  and  forsake   all  those  evils,    and  rebel  ag.nii.st   the 
-dther  of  them  ?    I  say  which  of  ths^se  tvyo  sorts  of  people 
Mre  appointed  for  God's  happy  number,  or  for  his  danmed 
i    uum' :er  ?   kjr  i*:  mus'  be  either  those   who  cjrtinue  doing 
'^  such  evils  at  are  known  to  be  such,  or  those  who  repent  & 
for^iake  alhevils,  and  depend^ on  salvatiQiil^y  Jesus XbrJ^t, 
by  receiving   the  saving  grace  of  Gcd   tbro'  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord  ;   I  say,  which  of  the  twain  ai^  to  bt  the  happy 
Dumber?  as   these  two  sorts  of  pecplij^  include  all  pec  pie 
I    ©a  the  face  of  the  earth.   Having  pit  tne  question,  H  must 
'    be  anst\''ered,  yet  it  seems  that  any  or.e  re acMng  the  above 
might  know  what  my  imswer  w'-ll  be,  but  if  any  are  igno- 
1  ant  and  want  to  knew  my  answer,  it  is  this  j  Go^'s  elect 

K 


(       1 10      ) 

mimbcr  arc  not  those  people  who  remain  in  the  practice 
of  all,  or  part  of  the  &  fort  named  evils,  die  in  them^  v  ith- 
©u|  repenting  of  the  e\  ils  they  have  been  guilty  of,  almost 
all  Ihe  days  of  their  mortal  lives — nevcl-  forsook  them, 
»or  never  were  saved  from  the  wickedness  of  this  cor- 
rupted world,  but  die  in  their  sins,  without  redemption 
in  [esus  Christ ;  rf  these  are  not  God's  elect  number,  they 
must  be  that  number  wliich  the  scripture  say  will  be  damn* 
ed  ;  that  is,  to  be  placed  on  God's  left  hand,  in  the  day 
of  Christ's  separating  his  sheep  from  his  goats,  who  are 
to  bar  that  dreadful  sentence  which  Christ  will  proclaim 
to'^them,  "  dep'oirt  you  cursed,  for  i%as  hungry  and  you 
gave  me  no  meat,  and  I  was  thirsty,  and  you  gave  me 
no  drink,  naked  and'y^u  cloathed  me  not,  sick  and  ia 
prison  you  visited  me  not."  Now  after  the  above  sentence 
is  passed,  how  will  it  be  with  those  that  are  placed  om 
Christ's  left  hand  .''  for  when  this  is  done,  it  most  certain- 
ly will  come  lo  pass. 

Bacnow  I  will  tell  you  who  are  God^s  elect  number, 
it  is  those  throughout  all  ages  who  heard  the  word  of 
God,  and  did  not  harden  their  hearts  by  turning  them- 
selves away  from  the  word  of  God,  but  did  receiye  h  iike 
the  good  ground  whi(  h  brH^gs  some  thirty-fold,  some 
sixty  and  some  an  hundred  of  the  fruits  of  God^s  spirit 
and  *ftord.  ibr  God^s  spirit  is  the  word  of  God;  which  is 
Tesus  Christ  our  lo^d  ;  for  Christ  himself  is  known  to  be 
iht  word  of  God,  which  all  must  receive  before  they  can 
be  eav^d  ;  thisTs  the  decree  of  God,  that  all  men  or  wo- 
men who  are  saved  5?-nd  elected  into  eternal  bliss,  shall  be 
saved  bv  Chrisi,  and  by  no  other  ;  for  God  has  not  given 
or  Rppointecl  any  other  besides  Christ  himself,  to  be  the 
saviour— :that  elect  numi)er  must  first  bfe  saved  from  their 
sj-js  srd  evils,  before  they  can  be  elected  and  admitted 
into  Ctod's  elect  number,  which  Christ  will  pL;ce  on  his 
right  hand,  and  will  proclaim  those  joyful  word«,  when 
hf  wiU  sa^  to  those  vvho  received  hi«  holy  woid  and  liro't 
forth  frr.Ms  of  his  lovely  spirit  ;  *•'•  Come  ye  blessed  of  my 
^hth'v,  inr.(^rit  thiq^-^ingdom  which  has  been  prepared  for 
_^  foundation  of  jthe,  world  "'     This   kipgdi^m 

'i»  oivly  for  tiiosfi  v.  ho  receive 'th«  word  of  God  in  a  good, 
hf>f;e€t  and  tru*^  penitent  heart — -hob  ve  repf^ntt  d  for  ,'}! 
%titk  d^j  i>£  ihsy  JSiany  or  f^ewi   and  have  come  out  0$ 


(  111  ) 

them  by  obevinj?  God's    call  to  them    to  repent,  forsake 
their  shis  and  take  up  their  cross^to  deny  their  desirej? — 
to  do  any  thing  which  the  light  of   Christ,    within  ih.i- 
own  understandings  discloses  to  them  to  be  sin.    Here  is 
the  cross,  it  is  when  we  find  our  minds  drawn  from  Christ 
into  any  evil  things  ;  that  is,  if  we   find  our  minds  drawn 
)  commit  any  evil  thing,  which  the  light  cf  Christ  hath 
f!hown    us  to  hb  the  desirable  fruits   of  sinful    flesh,    we 
must  cross  all  these  evil  desires  and  utterlv*  refuse  to  gra- 
tify any  such  sinsul  notions,  let  them  be  ever  so  desiirable 
to'the  nature   of     sinful   flesh,    or    ex^r  sd    enticing  or 
pleasing  to   a  sinful  .^orld  ;    this  is  vvhat  it  meant  by  tak- 
ing up  our  cross  and  following  Christ,    it  is  also  to  deny 
•urselves  that  sinful  liberty  which  men  take  in  doing  what 
God  has  forbidden  them  to  do  ;    for  all  things    declared' 
by  the  scriptures  and  God's  spirit,  to  be  the  fruits  of  the 
fiesh,  God  has  forbidden  men  to  do  ;  and  all  people  of  all 
colour  under  the  heavens,  who  obey  the  word   of  God  in 
denying  themselves  being  partakers  of  the  wickedness  o*' 
^ny  of  the  fruits  of  the  flesh  ;    if  in  the  day  of  their  igno- 
(  ranee  they  had  eaten  of  those  forbidden  fruits,  yet  if^they 
now  in   the  day  of  knowledge,    repent   and    obey  God's 
voice  and  come  out  of  those    wicked  practices— leave  \i\\ 
their  sinful  words  and  deeds,  %d  as  I  said  take  up  their 
cross — deny  themselves  of  those  sinful  deeds,  and  follosv 
Christ  in  the,  way  of  doing  the    will  of  God  his   father  ; 
■  even  those  that  have  had  their  garm^ts  stained  with  their 
sms,^  and  their  sinful  garments  were  like  crimson  or  scar- 
Jpt,  yet  thev  shall  be  washed  as  white  as  snow  ;  it  is  those 
who'follow  Christ  in  the  way  of  his  salvation,  that  arc  or 
*^will  be  the  dect  of  God,  for  they  have  no  dependence  .on 
any  thing  but  Christ  to  save  them   from  the  evils   ofthig 
world.     These,  and  only  these,  wdth   the   innocent  babes 
who  depar|%d  this  life  before  they  came  to  the  knowledge 
of  e^il,^  shall  have  any  enterance  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 
N/  V  they  who  have  eves  to  see  and  ears  to  hear,  may  see 
and  hear  what    Course  pf  life   men    nust  take  to  come  to 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  .;  but  all  wha^.,i3  written  will  .not 
remove  men  from  depending  on  the  detrees  for  salvation, 
which  theV  sav  God  in  his  secret  council  did  make  before 
he  formed   m\n,    or  g^ve  hi  n  bemg.        T  will  say    so'ne 
more— If  God  did,  before  inan  wa^  made  or  brought  into 


(      112      V 

beinw^'   foveordain  all  trim^>    v/hatsoever  tLat  comes    to 
pass,  why^ii^mt  (fod  h\ve  so.ne    respect  for  Coin's  of- 
fenag?  for  if  Go  i  did   afgreorvUin  it    why    should    God 
Jhavief  no  respect  for  it — froiu  whence  sh^nld  Cain  be  wrath 
ami  his    coii-itenance  fall? — wiy  should    the    Lord    ask 
Cain  for  whiit.c.uise  he  was  ♦vrat'i — '/%v  should  the  Lord 
say,    "  if  thou  doest  well   shall  t*om  not  be   accepted." — ■ 
Whydidthe  eanh  curse  Cain,    for  the  Lord    said  when, 
he  called  Cain  to  give  him    an  account  of  liis    murdering 
his  brother^  he  saidtnat  '■'  Cuin  was  Cursed  from  the  earth, 
and,  he  should  be  a  fugitive  and  a  vagabond  in  it,  and  that- 
it  should  not  yield  her  strength  unto^i;/i/'     For   which 
cause  Cain  cried  out     '''^thit    his  punishment  was  grea- 
ter than  he  could    bear."      Now   if  God  had    decreed  allr 
this  beiore  it  capne  to  pass,  how  could  poor   Cain  help  it 
—-nidst  he  suffer  for  vvhat  God  had  foreordained  him  to 
do?  but  if  God  bad  decreed  all   this,    he  has  made  new 
decrees  since,  for  \vhen  he  put  a  mark  on  Cain  to  prevent 
hirn  irom  being  slain,  he  must  have  made  a  ne  .v  decree  on> 
the  account  of  Cain,    least  any  man  should  slay  him,     in 
this  decree  he  declared,  "  that  whosoever  slays  Cain  that 
seven  fold  vengeance  should   be  taken  on  them,"     Now 
this  is  God's  certain  decree,    for  it'was   not  rn  a  do  before 
man  was  made,  and  placed  in  the   garden  of  Eden,  nei- 
ther was    it  made  at  the   se.ting    of   that    secret   council 
which  men  depend  on.     This  shows    that  God    did    not 
bring  all  things  to  pass^y  that  first  decree,  for  if  all  things 
had  come  to   pass  by  that  first  decree,  there  w*ould    not 
have  b^en  room  for  a  second    decree  ;  the  second  would 
be  without  pov/er,  and  any  man  that  had  a  mind  to  slay 
Cain,  might  laugh  at  the    weakness   of  God,  in  pretend- 
ing to  make  a  second  decree    with  a   seven  fold   penalty, 
to  be  demanded  of  such  that  did  slay  any  of  Cain's  family  ; 
all  this  shows  that  God  has  made  new  decree#and  ne^v 
covenants,  for  since  man  was  made   God  has  made^new 
covenants    witJi    them,    since  that  which   he   rnade  vvi^ 
Adam  in  placing  him  in  the  garlen  ;    and  after  that. was 
broken  by^man's  editing  the  forbidden  fruit.      But  if  God 
had  decreed  that  Aclfti  and  Eve  should  do  so  ?  how  coul4 
they  help  it  ? — how  could  they  transgress,  for  no  man  can 
transgress  a  law  or  decree,     v/heh  they    truly  obey    and 
faithfully  do,  v/hat  is  decreed  for  them  to  do.     Our  law 


f^  C      113      ) 

givers  would  be  strange  law-makers,  if  they  first  made  a 
law  for  us  to  do  so  and  so,  and  we  in  obedience  to  this 
law  did  in  truth  just  as  this  law  required  us  to  do  ;  would 
they  not  be  very  strange  law-makers  to  punish  us  for  our 
obedience  ^  and  the  doctrine  of  God's  decree  by  his  secret 
council,  if  it  could  possibly  be  true  that  God  did  foreor- 

.    dain  all  things  that  come  to  pass,  I  say^  v/ould  it  not  make 
out  our  most  holy,  merciful,  kind  and  loving  God  a  very 

-  -  strange  and  a  very  tyrannical  God,  to  punish  a  number  of 
his  creatures  men,  for  doing  what  he  had  decreed  them 
to  do  ?  Away  with  all  such  blasphemous  and  above  all 
things  dangerous  d^pctrine,  for  an  established  belief  of 
this  false  doctrine,  would  utterly  destroy  all  the  work  of 
man's  souls*  It  can  only  be  done  by  Christ  our  Lord, 
and  there  is  no  other  to  help  us  in  the  work  of  regenera> 
tion,  and  in  bringing  us  to  the  new  birth  of  righteousnes'^ 
—none  but  him  who  is  called  Christ — who  rose  from  the 
grave  on  the  third  day  after  he  was  crucified,  and  ascend- 
ed up  to  heaven,  from  whence  he  shall  come  to  judge  all 
mankind. 

But  again,  God  did  make  a  new  covenant  with  Noah^ 
ivhenhe  promised  never  to  drown  this  world  with  water, 
as  he  had  done  in  thu-  flood  which  drowned  all  men,  but 
those  that  were  in  the  ark.  And  again,  it  said  after  those 
days'^  that  God  would  make  a  new  covenant  with  men,  in 
which  he  would  put  his  law  in  their  hearts,  add  Vv-rite  itia 
tlteir  minds.  Was  this  new  coverrant  made  by  the  secret 
council,  in  which  it  is  said  that  God  foreordained  all  thiiigs 
that  comes  to  pass  ?  for  this  i\gw  covenant  has  really  come 
to  pass,  and  all  christians  that  are  redeemed  from  theii 
wicked  past  ways,  are  witness  to  the  truth  of  it.  Was 
this  new  covenant  made  by  the  old  decree,  or  has  it  been 
made  since  man  was  made  and  pile's d  on  earth  I  for  by 
the  doctl*me  held  by  some  of  my  dear  fellow-creatur  ri, 
this  secret  council  must  have  been  held  some  time  before 
GfoX  nade  the  Sun,  Moon  and  stars,  and  placed  them  in. 
the  fir'-irameut  of  heaven,  to  give  man  light  on  the  Vac e 
of  the  earth.  Can  ariy  man  say  th#  the  new  cove  suat 
was  inade  before  man  was  created,  and  placedi^in  the  ;  •  ».r- 
den  of  Eden  ?  or  will  any  man  deny  that*  it  has  IV  en 
male  some  thousands  of  years  ufter  mm  ,was  cr^at- 
ed'f  or  will  any  man  deny  that  this  new  covenantiil  decre.e 

K2 


has  Ucea  made.  St  all  ?  Surely  no  man  tkat  bdiev€S  tKat 
there  is  a  Gpd  in  heavfen,  will  be  so  presuraptuoas  as  to 
deny  that  thi^  new  covenantal  decree  has  been  made,  and 
h  ^vas  some  thousands  of  years  alter  man  was  created. — - 
If  this  new  covenant  has  been  made  according  to  accounts 
•in  the  scriptures,  and  by  God  himself,  how  will  any  .man 
dare  to  say  thut  all  things  that  come  to  pass,  come  by 
the  decree  of  the  secret  council ;  but  I  wanttoknow  which 
of  that  secret  council  has  been  so  far  from  keeping  it  a 
secret  ?  it  seems  that  man  was  not  in  being  when  that 
council  sat,  therefore  1  want  to  know  which  of  tliat  coun- 
cil it  was  that  came,  and  told  these  men  who  hold  this 
decree  doctrine  of  it  r  Again,  itseems^  that  all  legislative 
bodiQ«,  who  have  power  to  make  laws  in  a  government, 
that  these  bodies  have  power  to  alter  somethings  they 
had  made,  and  if  this  be  the  case,  the  first  legislative 
body  that  siit  in  heaven,  God  must  have  been  the  head 
of  it,  when  that  supposed  secret  council  was  held  ;  if  that 
body  did  pass  such  a  law,  for  such  a  number  to  ba  blessed, 
and  all  the  rest  lo  be  cursed  without  any  conditions  ;  God 
iTiust  have  .sj^en  the  injustice  of  it  so  clear,-  that  he,  as  a 
merciful  and  just  God  has  called  the  Son  and  Holy  Ghost 
to  hold  another- council,  and  they  haye  certainly  altered 
it,  and  passed  a  new  decee,  which  is,  that  on  condition 
of  men's  repenting  for  their  past  sins,  and  forsaking  their 
sinful  deeds  and  words,  and  that  they  wou:ld  believe,  obey 
and  follow  the  instrucliiGiis  of  his  holy  spirit  or  grace  ; 
that  all  who  wOuld  do  so  amongst  all  n?itions— -should  be 
Faved,  -  withoat  any  respect  of  persons*  Now  when  is 
it  that  mankind  comes  under  this  new  law,  or  new  cove- 
nantal  decree  ?  it  is  when  we  receive  Christ  into  our 
sods,  and  When  our  souls  are  espoused  to  him  as  in  the 
marriage  coven  ,nt,  which  is  afier  the  manner  of  grace. 
{iiid  not  after  the  manner  of  the  ixSsh.  All  whojll'do  not 
kn  ;w  these  things  know  nothing  or  a  christian  life,  or 
of  living  under  the  government  of  Christ  ;  and  all  Who 
do  •  not  live  under  his  government  this  side  of  the  grave, 
Vpill  fall  short  of  enteringthe  kingdom  of  God^  for  no 
person  can  enter  God's  kingdom  before  thej^  are  joined 
to  Christ,  in  and -under  this  new  covenant  which  i§  of 
fgraee  f :  ^nd  all  who  jpiri  Christ,  Christ  has  power  to  sai^e 
iti«*jOf;^ithip\'  the)r. h-«diivsd  iejalV^tb^^^kk^-d&e^i' oitUe 


einful  ^Egyptians  for  many  years,  yet  If  ^nf  of  them  wliV 
only  open  their  hearts  to  the  knockin*^  of  Cnrist's  call,  he 
:  will  certainly  come  into  them  and  sup  with  them,  and  they 
t^n  sup  with  Christ  ;    therefore  the   spirit  and  the  bride 
call  all  to  come,    let  their  sins  be   w^hatsoever  they  may 
have  been  j  nc**   is  the  day  of  salvation,  and  all  are  called 
to  come,  yea,  the  wicked,  if  he  will  forsake  his    wicked 
ways,  and  do  that  which  is   lawful  and   right    under  the 
i'new  covenant;  his  past  wickedness  shall  not  be  mention 
©d  in  all  God's  kingdom  any  more,  but  for  his  doing  that* 
which  is  lawful  and  right,    his  soul  shall  be  sav'ed  alive  ; 
!  therefore  I    with  the  spirit  and  the  rest  of  the  brides  call 
(^  all  to  come,  for  whosoever  will  give  themselves  up   may 
I  eome  and  uke  of  the  waters  of  life  freely,  and  that  with- 
out money  or  price  ;  but  ail  that  will  not  come  must  abide 
by  the    consequences  ;    whil6  there  are  any   desirous  to 
#ome  let  them  come,  an;T  th<<t  as  quick    as  possible,    for 
there  ought  to  be  no  delay,  as  the  door  of  his  mercy  is  to 
fee  shut  after  his  merciful  visitation  is  ever,  and  as  his  spi- 
rit is  not  always  to  strive  with  man,  1    pray  all  to  make 
speed-in  their  coming,  whilst  his  lovely  arms  are  open  to 
save  them.       One  thing  mjre,  let    all  that  are  willing  to 
oome,  be  aware  of  the  entangled   nature  of  that  abhored 
^  octrine,  which  Satan  has  set  up  in  order  to  destroy  tbe 
work  of  regeneration,  for  this  is  what  the  devil,  aims  at, 
in  trying  to  make  unregcnerated  people  believe,    that  the- 
^ork  of  dieir  salvation  was  done  by  thatalledged  decree* 
and  no  more  can  be  done  to  make  any  alteration,    for  if 
they   are  of  that  chosen  number  for  rest,     so  it  will  be  ; 
teut  if  onthe  other  h  uid^  nothing  that  can  be  done  will  alter 
k  ;  b}^  this  belief-Satart  can  hinder  the  work  of   grace  in 
their  souls.       But  I    will  ask    what  such   believers  go  to 
meeting  for,  or  for  what    do  such  preachers    preach  for  ? 
,  Why  do  thejl  tell  men  that  they  must  repent  or  be  damn- 
^,  or  tell  pe-ople  that  they  must  pray  and  do  justly,  &c.? 
,  Perha^js  they  will  say  thiit  it  is  our  duty  to  be  found  in  the 
■  »5e  of  means,  and  -so  I  say  th»t  itis  the  duty  of  all  on  earths 
I>.it    what  profit  will   prayers  or  preaching,  and  going  o 
Bieeting,, baptizing,  or  being  btiptized,'  or  going  as  they 
? 'v  to  the  sacrament-^of  eating, bread  and  drinking  winey 
ijich  they  call  the  Lord's  supper  do?  '^e^ingthat  aeeord-^ 
u;g  to  tha«"deere€rd-l>^li§f^>  thkt  all  things  ior  i^9m%   hag-* 


pimess  oyfor  man  s  curse,  was  done'tjy  that  secret  council 
before  man  was  formed  of  the  dust  of  the  earth,  and  that 
unalterable  ;  ii  that  was  the  case,  let  us  eat,  drink,  and 
fulfil  all  the  desires  that  sinful  nature  calls  for,  let  us 
no  more  grieve  at  sin  nor  mourn  at  iniquity,  for  to-nK)r- 
row  we  die  ;  then  if  we  were  of  that  nun.»-r  that  God 
decreed  should  be  saved,  without  any  conaitions  for  us 
as  created  bemgs  to  comply  with  on  our  part,  it  will  be 
well,  if  on  the  other  hand,  all  that  can  be  done  by  praying, 
preaching,  going  to  meetmg  and  every  other  practicable 
means  are  without  effect,  as  all  things  that  comes  to  pass 
were  foreordained.  Biu  concerning  the  use  of  means  for 
man's  soul's  salvation — what  means  are  to.be  used  if  all 
things  were  done  before  man  was  born  ?  Now  I  will  ask 
what  are  the  means  iiecessary  for  the  use  of  man'^  soul's 
salvation  ?  is  it  words  called  prayers,  or  prayer  itself  ac- 
ceptable before  God?  Many*  use  words  in  the  likeness  of 
prayer,  but  this  is  only  the  form  of  prayer  and  belongs  to 
the  wicked,  which  is  abomination  to  God,  and  it  will  b:r 
numbered  with  the  rest  ot  their  wicked  deeds,  as  blessing 
God  in  words  and  c  ursing  of  man,  who  was  £rst  made  iu 
the  likeness  of  God,  dots  not  belong  to  rrian  and  will  not 
be  acceptable  to  God.  But  what  is  the  real  use  of  means, 
or  what  is  means  itself  ?  As  no  man  hath  answ^ered  me  I 
must  answer  myself  :  It  is  to  use  those  means  the  physi- 
cian has  prescribed  to  be  taken  by  those  who  are  under 
coniplaint,  and  who  desire  to  be  healed,  the  means  is  what 
the  Doctor  Ix^s  prepared  for  those  disordered  ones,  to  t?ike 
and  use  imtil  it  heals  them.  It  is  not  calling  for  means 
and  not  using  them  will  do,  it  is'using  the  means  after 
they  are  prepared  for  the  sick  man  or  womau— this  is  the' 
use  of  the  means,  it  is  to  recover  the  health  cf  the  diseas- 
ed person,  as  is  evidem  by  the  saying  of  Christ,  when  he 
said  "  that  the  hale  did  not  want  a  physician,  but  those 
that  are  sick."  Why  should  means  be  tised  if  there  is  an 
impossibility  to  he  cared  ?  What  is  the  necessary  means 
to  he  used  in  healing  the  disordered  souls  cf  men,  which 
has  come  upon  all  that  ever  sinned  t  is  it  the  .vords  of  a 
sinful  prayer  or  going  into  the  earthlv  water,  or  is  it  eat- 
ing bread  and  drinking  v.ine  in  the  meeting  houses, 
"vV^Tere  it  is  said  that  thev  did  trra  the  supper  of  :he  Lf;rd  I 
No\T  al!  this  nvay  be  done  and  yet  have  no  means  of  grace 


(      117     ) 

in:  "it,  no  not  at  all.  I  will  now  show  you  that  caii  believe 
whit  the  means  is,  it  is  grace  itself,  which  God  the  great 
physician  has  prepared  and  sent  mt)  this  world  :  which 
means  is  Christ  our  Lord,  and  who3oever  receive  him 
atid  abide  in  him  as  he  does  in  the  Father,  the  same  is  in 
the  use  of  the  means  of  grace,  and  no  others,  let  their  bo- 
dily performances  be  whai  they  mw.  Every  sick  soul 
that  receives  his  spirit,  and  faithfully  follows  the  directions 
that  God  has  given  to  all  that  will  use  this  holy  virtuous 
means,  which  God  has  administered  to  the  saving  of  all 
th-e  souls  that  ever  have  been  saved,  this  is  all  the  means- 
that  can  save  or  heal  any  soul.  Now  I  as  one  who  desi- 
reth  every  soul  to  be  saved,  who  have  not  sinned  cut  the 
the  day  of  God's  merciful  visitation,  I  say  with  the  spirit 
and  with  the  bride,  let  all  come  that  are  willing  to  come  ; 
O  !  come!  O  !  come  !  and  drink  of  the  waters  of  life 
freely,  without  money  and  without  price,  and  every  one 
that  cometh  and  drinketh  shall  be  healed. 

This  is  what  I  have  from  the  Lord  to  teH  the  people, 
and  thus  I  stop  on  predestination^  for  if  people  will  not 
believe  in  the  free  offers  of  grace,  for  man's  salvation  by 
Christ  our  Lord,  neither  would  they  believe  if  one  was  to 
rise  from  the  dead  ;  I  have  called  but  little  of  the  scrip- 
ture, but  nior«  reason  and  justice,  for  if  I  was  to  give 
my  views  and  bnng  all  the  texes  of  scripture,  for  and 
against  this  abominable  destroying  doctrine,  which  comes 
by  Satan's  false  construction  of  the  scriptures,  I  would 
have  to  write  a  larger  volume  then  the  Bible  itself,  which 
W")uld  require  more  time  than  my  poor  circumstances 
could  bear,  and  pay  the  printer  for  doing  it ;  thus  I  by 
the  grace  of  God  offer  this  as  the  widow's  two  mites. 

Having  just  finished  the  above,  I  tho't  I  was  done,  but 
in  a  few  minutes  I  found  my  mind  drawn  and  called  onto 
write  some  thing  more  which  is  as  followeth* 


CHAPTER  X, 

Of  the  difference  betiveen  reality  ^  and  the  likeness  and  firm, 

SATAN  has  transformed  himself,  as  the  Apostle  say, 
into  the  likeness  of  an  angel  of  light,  but  as  a  likeness  is 
not  tlie  very  thing  which  the  likeness  imitates,  there  m^ay 


bea very  dangerous  mistake,  va  taking  the  likeness  iristeac 
of  the  real  thing   itself  ;  and   by  this    mistake  Satan  may 
make  great  use  ot  it,    to  hinder  the  saving  grace  of  God 
from  its  opperation  in  the  minds  of  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  men,  especially  on  the  minds    of  those  people  that  are 
aot  redeemed  from  their  sins  ;    yet  they  make  use  of  the 
form  of  religion,  by  going  to  meeting  as  tho'  they  went 
to  worship  God,  which  no  man  can  do  without  the  assis- 
tance of  the  spirit  of  Christ  our  Lord,  who  is  and  will  be 
the  Saviour  of  all  that  are  or  ever  will  be  saved ;  all  who 
dlenieth  him  are  no  christians,  neither  can  they  be  before 
thev  ackno  vlsdgehim,  that  is  Christ,  to  be  their  Saviour, 
tvhom  the   father  of  all  mercies  has    appointed  to  be  the 
Saviour  of  all  that  are  saved,  and  is  sufficient  to  save  every 
•ther  souls,  if  they  would  be  saved  by  him.     But  some, 
may  say  how   can  this    be  true,    seeing  that  the  number 
©f  the  lost  souls  that  will  not  be  saved,  is  compared  to  the 
sand  of  the  sea,  which  cannot  be  numbered  by  man  ?  Let 
me  tell  all  those  that  the  reason  of  all  these  not  being  sav- 
ed, is  not  for  the  want  of  Christ  having    power  to  save 
them,  neither  is  it  for  the  want  of  his  willingness  to  save 
them,  as  his  lamentation  over  Jerusalem    plainly  in  that 
comparison  shows,  that  the  reason  why  these  are  not  sav  • 
ed,  is  because  these  lost  souls  would  not  give  themselves 
up  to  be  saved  by  him  ;  and  God  seeing  that  these  Vvncked 
rebellious  ones,  would  rebel  against  the  striving  of  Christ's 
saving  spirit,  forespake  of  them  by  the  mouth  of  his  pro- 
phets and    apostles,   and  because    it   is   aforespoken   of, 
these  would  wish  to  lay  all  the  fault  on  God  and  that  se- 
cret council,  for  their  being  separated  from  those  who  \r^ 
obedience  to  God's   calling,    have  repented  and  forsaken 
their  sins  and   all  their  wickedness,  and  accepted   Christ- 
for  their  Saviour,  by  which  thev  are  saved  and  blessed  of 
God,  while  the  obstinate  rebellious   are  cursed  and  sent 
into  that  fire  which  was    prepared    for  the  devil    and  his 
angels,  for  this  fire  was  not  preuared  at  first  of  the  Lord 
for  the  sons  and  daugfhters  of  men,  but  only  for  the  proud 
rebellious  devil  and  his  angels  ;    then  vqu  may  say  how 
came  men  to  be  put  there,  if  God  did  not  first  prepare  it 
for  them  ?    If  after  all  that  has  been    written,  you  do  not 
know  the  reason  of  this,     I  once  more  will  tell  you  ;  the 
plaia  reason  that  caused  them  who  are  lost  beings  to  be 


50,  is  th€  Son  of  God  and  ttie  son  of  per^tion,  Who  is 
the  son  of  the  devil — it  is  like  two  young  men  of  two  dif- 
ferent families,  eacU  having  th^ir  own  diiferent  habitations 
iind  fortunes,  be  they  rich  or  poor,  but  I  will  say  one  is 
rich  and  the  other  poor — the  souV  of  man  is  like  a  young 
woman  who  is  ofanother  family,  and  both  of  these  young 
men  are  desirous  to  marry  this  young  worn aiv,  for  this 
j>urpose  they  both  court  her,  and  that  from  time  to  time, 
to  get  her  consent  to  marry  one  of  them*  Now  the  one  of 
the  two  which  she  falls  in  love  with  theinost,  and  likes  best, 
she  gives  her  consent  to  marry  ;  after  she  makes  her 
choice  she  marries  him  she  chose,  and  then  she  is  to  go 
with  him,  if  it  is  the  poor  man  she  is  only  entitled  to  his 
poor  fortune  ;  and  as  she  refused  the  rich  young  man, 
who  truly  desired  to  make  her  his  wife,  but  rejected  him, 
is  the  fall  of  this  young  woman's  poverty  and  bad  end, 
to  be  charged  to  the  rich  young  man,  or  will  this  young- 
woman  h  ive  any  right  to  the  rich  young  man's  fortune, 
when  by  her  own  choice  she  chused  the  poor  man,  wliick 
brought  her  Into  disr.ress  ?  Certainly  you  will  say,  that 
hermiseri'is  Were  notprepared  for  her,  any  more  than' it 
was  er  own  choice,  vrh-n  at  the  tine  of  courtship 
the  rich  young  mun  was  in  earnest,  and  desired  her  tm 
give  her  consent  to  marry  him,  which  would  have  bro't 
her  to  his  rich  possessions,  where  she  might  have  enjoy*- 
cd  all  things  that  could  have  made  her  happy  ;  in  his 
courtship  too  he  told  her,  that  if  she  refused  his  goodly  of- 
fer by  which  she  wouli'f>%fwade  happy,  and  married  the 
poor  young  man,  that  her  lot  &  possession  v/ould  be  miser- 
able ;  who  is  to  be  blamed  for  the  miseries  and  misfor- 
tunes of  this  youn^]f  wojjun,  Jid  notthis  come  by  herown 
foolish  chusing  V  So  in  like  manner  it  will  be  with  every 
one,  who  inake  eh^^ice  to  marry  the  poor  son  of  the  devil, 
who  hath  carried  them  by  their  own  chusing,  to  the  inhe- 
ritance of  his  father  here  on  earth,  which  are  ail  the  c  vils 
committed  under  the.  Sun — this  is  all  the  devil  is  entiiled 
to,  for  he  is  not  worth  one  cent,  e.7«cept  the  wickedness 
of  men  and  women,  this  he  is  entitled  to,  because  he  is 
father  of  all  wickedness.  Now  whence  comes  the  pover- 
ty of  this  young  woman,  does  it  not  come  of  her  own 
chasing.^  by  refusing  the  rich  young  man,  after  he  told 
h^r  wkit  would  be  $bc  uonsecmence  of  her  r^fusinA   his 


(     I'SO     ) 

rich  offers,  which  he  was  abit  to  give  and  wovlS  gjve  it. 
.if  she  would  only  make  choice  ol  hirn  instead  of  the  poor 
man.  As  ail  must  confess  that  her  ipislortune  can-e  by 
her  own  choice,  and  that  she  lias  not  any  right  to  expect 
any  benefit  in  the  rich  young  m_an's  fortune,  as  by  her. 
own  chusing  she  canrie  to  this  poor  and  miserable  inheri- 
tance ;  so  it  is,  and  will  be,  with  all  who  malce  choice  of 
a  wieked  life,  and  refuse  a  righteous  one  ;  for'the  father- 
of  all  mercies  has  sent  his  rich  son  into  tliis  world,  and  he 
has  ofJered  to  make  a  marriage  covenant,  with  every  soul 
of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men,  on  condition  that  they 

would  refuse  to  do  tvil  and  make  choice  of  him he  hath 

promised  on  these  conditions  to  brin^g  them  to  his  father's 
kingdom,  where  they  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  riches  of 
his  heavenly  kingdom,  and  akho'  the  wicked,  who  will  be 
placed  on  the  left,  may  make  as  strange  as  tho'  they  had 
never  seen  Christ  the  rich  Son  of  God,  yet-there  are  none 
on  a  serious  examination,  but  what  must  confess  that  their 
understanding,  at  sundry  times  have  been  opened,  and 
there  had  been  at  sundry  tirnes  '"k  struggling  between 
good  and  evil  in  them  ;  for  when  4:hey'  were  going  to  d« 
some  evil,  they  were  visited  by  a  thought,  saying  in  them, 
that  it  would  ht  hater  not  to  do  that  evil — this  witness 
will  rise  up  in  all  and  against  ^whp  reject  his  saving 
power,  as  long  as  they  remain  in  their  sins,  rebellion  a"d 
unbelief,  Christ  is  none  of  their  saviour,  and  for  this 
cause  they  reViain  in  tlu^ir^^sins — altho'  they  may  have 
been  baptized,  it  was  only  in  tl?e  water  of  this  eartlt,  arsi 
not  into  Jesus  Christ,  whose  spiiit  is  the  liXingjivater  that 
con.es  do vYti  from  heaven,  out  of  whose  be-Uy  rivers  ^pf 
•living  waters  flow  man  abundant  manner,  towards  all  t|ie 
sons  ana  c  aughters  of  men^ — the  spirit  and  the  bripe 
have  been  calling  ail  people,  that  have  not  biaspliemed 
ag'.iinstthe  Koiv  Ghost,  to  come  and  jijirtake  of  the  waters 
of  life  freely,  yea,  without  moi*ey  and  without  ^rite  ;  for 
it  is  provided  nnd  given  freely  by  the  great  God  of  hea- 
ven— t  is  is  the  water  in  m  hich  men  are  to  be  Baptized 
in  and  be  saved,  and  all  who  are  washed  in  this  water &nd 
baptizeffinit  are  majde^rleaii  by.  the  blood  of  the  kimh, 
an.  are  haptize<i  ii*  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
lifiyChofcL.  which  makes  them  dead  *  to  sin,  but"  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Chnst  our  Lord,  in  whose  Spirit 


(    ^21    ) 

they  can  truly  call  God  their  father,  by  the  marriage  co 
venant,  in  which  they  are  not  only  baptized,  butaremar 
tied  and  joined  to  the  Son  ofXjod,  wherein  they  are  join 
ed  in  the  holy  spirit  to  the  Lord,  v/herefore  God  is  not 
ashamed  to  own  them  to  be  his  children,  and  they  are 
allowed  to  call  him  their  father  andtheir  God,  through  the 
spirit  of  Jesus  Christthe  bride  son  of  God.  All  who  know 
nothing  of  these  things,  are  yet  strangers  to  the  redeem- 
ing power  of  God,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ;  therefore 
it  is  no  wonder  that  they  yet  remaia-  in  their  sins,  altho' 
they  have  been  dipped  or  sprinkled  with  the  water  oi 
some  river,  spring,  branch,  creek  or  well,  and  have  heard 
some  unclean  person,  priest  or  minister  say,  (calling  theui 
by  the  name  w^hich  had  been  given  to  them)  I  baptize 
thee,  (or  you)  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost  ;  thus  they  take  it  for  granted  that  they  are  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity.  But  O  !  what  a 
mistake  this  often  is,  for  ins^ad  of  their  being  baptized 
into  Jesus  Christ,  they  are  only  so  in  the  water  of  the 
earth  which  cannot  take  away  sin  ;  this  is  evident  by  the 
life  that  somt  of  them  kad,  for  this  sort  of  baptism  doe? 
not  save  them  from  under  the  power  of  Satan,  the  king  oi 
darkness,  whose  false  Itght  dazles  and  blinds  the  eyes  oi 
his  subjects,  so  that  they  remain  without  the  sight  of  tlx 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  are  content  with  the  form  of 
worship,  without  having  the  life,  spirit  acd  power  of  iL 
yet  they  often  go  to  the  appointed  and  placed  table,  where 
they  receive  by  ihe  giver,  (  a  preacher  of  some  name)  the 
bread  of  this  earth  and  the  wine  of  the  earthlv  grapes, 
,  instead  of  the  spiritual  bread  and  wine  of  God's  kingdom, 
which  none  can  recei\ e  before  they  do  believe,  and  -re 
baptized  with  the  baptism  that  burns  up  their  sins,  and  de- 
stroys their  iniquity  with  that  living  water  v.hich  fluv/s 
from  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  is  able  to  cleanse  them 
from  all  uncleanness — will  put  away  all  the  filths  of  the 
fleshly  mind,  and  give  all, those  that  tire  baptized  in  a;  cI 
with  this  living  water,  the  best  and  most  needful  prep  or- 
ation to  receive  the  true  sncri:m«nt,  which  priepararion  i? 
the  answer  of  a  good  conscience  towards  God,  in  which 
they  recieve  the  mind  of  Christ,  and  leads  ihem  to  live 
that  life  which  keeps  the  consciasceyoid  of  ofJ"tn«e  toward.'- 

h  - 


1 

(      A  22     ) 

tiod  and  man;     But  ihousandb  of  those  that  are  baptised 
in  and  with  this  earthly    and  elementary  water,    used  by 
some  priests  or  preachers,  yet  remaineth  in  their  sins,  un- 
repented  of  and  unforglven  ;  yet  they  say  that  they  were 
baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost; 
but  this  is  a  great  mistake,  for  it  was  in  the  water  or  with 
water  of  the  earth,  being  sprinkled,  dipped  or  plunged  in 
it  or  with  it,  by  the  hand  of  some.priest  or  minister,  who 
said  that  he  did  baptize  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ;     but    the  child    Of  grown  person 
v/ho  came  or  was  brought   to  this    watery    baptism,  did 
not  enter  into  the  name,  nor  receive  the  spirit  of  the  Fa- 
•  ther.  Son,  and   Holy  Ghost,    by  the  m.inister's  speaking 
the  above  words— if  those  who  are  baptized  in  this  earth- 
,iy  water  do  not  receive  the  virtues    of  the  living   water, 
by  which  all  that  are  truly  baptized  in  it,  have  their  siiis 
v/ashed  away  at  the  tim&  of  their  real  baptism,  which  is 
performed  by  the    Holy  Ghost,;    I  say,    if  they  do   not 
faring  these  pe];sons  into  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  as  they  say  they  do,  will  they  not  be  found 
Jlars  and  deceivers,  in  pretending  to  do  what  they  do  not  |%^ 
thev  sav  that_theydo,but  it  is  not  done,  as  is  e\  .dcntby  the 
fruits^they  bear,  for  If  they  were  in  the  name,  that  is  the 
spirit^  of  the   Father,  Son,  and    Holy  Ghost,  they  would 
bring  good  deeds,    but  as  long  ?,s  they  bring  evil  deedsj 
\rt  may  know  thiKihevure  without  ihe  true  baptism,  for  all 
v/ho  are  truly  baptized,  are  baptized  inthe  cifeath  of  Christ 
/a— are  buried    with  him  in  his    death,  and  have  rose  with 
him  from  the  deadly  works  of  sin,    and    hav'e  ascended 
With  hini  to  t)ie  living  work  of  righteousness,  whose  :af- 
'  fectians  are  sat  ixi.  heaven,  above  the  v/orks  of  a  eartlily 
and  sinful  mind* 

4-11  that -are  truly  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
Son,  «nd  Holy  Ghost,  are  become  new  in  the  spirit  of 
•Christ-;  as  ^(^hrist  is  in  .the  I^'ather,  so  they  are  in  the  Fa- 
ther and  Holy  CJhon.t—^'it'is  these  that  are  rightly  prepar- 
.cd  to  p-irtake  of  the  supper  of  the  Lord,  and  no  others; 
•for.no  »^rs  can  discern  the  I^ord's  body  but  them.-^ 
they  ari^nrightly  prepared  to  eat  the  Lord's  5Uppe^,  and 
escape  the  damnation  that  is  threatened  to  all  who  eat  A.m- 
v/orthiiv^  hut  ^tU  v,  ho' come  to  this  blessed  table  whifh  the 
:Lcrd  has   prepared^  are  wo)ct|iy  ^onmunicants.  and  a^e 


(      123     ) 

made  partakers  of  the  Lord's  supper  indeed — here  are  no 
type  or  ihadow,  but  realitie's  indeed — here  they  eat  the 
bread  that  came  down  from  heaven,  and  drink  thcAt  blood 
which  is  drink  indeed — this  drink  gives  them    that  spiri- 

,  tual  life  which  is  of  the  Son  of  God,  by  whom  they  live, 
move  and  have  their  being — h,ere  they  eat  worthily,  and 
can  discern  the  Lord's  body,-  which  none  can  see  before 
they  are  brought  from  darkness  to  light,  even  the  light  oi" 
Che  Son  of  God,  and  by  walking  in  this  light,  they  become 
ilie  children  of  the  day  of  righteousness^  which  they  re» 
eeive  from  the  Son  of  God,  having  no  other  righteousness 
but  that  given  unto  them  by  the  Lcrd  Jesus  Christ,  in 
their  regeneration  and  in  tl^ieir  being  born  again >  by  which 
they  can  call  G.^d  tlielr  father  in  truth  and  in  righteous- 
ness— they  tell  no  lies,  like  many  who  have  been  only 
bapti?!ed  in  this  earthly  v/ater,  by  the  hand  of  sotiie  man 
•r  priest,  who  pretended  to  baptize  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  Son,  and  Koly  Ghost,  and  gave  them  the 
"^read  of  our   wheat-fiour,    and   the  wine  of  our  gnipes, 

'  without  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ— it  is  evident  that; 
they  do  not  receive  the  reality  itself,  but  only  a  likeness 
er  resemblatjce,  which  cannot  help  the  souls  of  those  vv'ho 
eat  this  aloue,  without    the   body  and   blood   of   Christ, 

■  Which  came  down  from  heaven  to  give  life  to  all  that  re- 
ceive it. 

By  the  following  sign,  people  mav  knov/  those  that  are 
only  baptized  in  the  water  of  this- earth,  which  is  but  a 
form  tind  iil^eiess,  and*those  who  are  baptized  in  substamie 
and  in  the  nowerful  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost— the  first  cont'''ir.e  ^n  their  sins,  and  often  bear 
Ifiore  or  Itrss  of  the  frul.,  H  -^i-  :     the    others  have 

come  out  of  their  sins,  ana  bjUig  iorthahe  fruits  of  tke 
spirit  which  is  begotten  by  Christ  out'  Lord',  .aud  iillof 
them  who  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  arv^ 
the  children  of  God,  andean   in  truth  call    God    - 

■  ther,  as  he  really  is  by  the  marriage  ofhi^son  unto  Li:e:ii  ; 
— but  those  who  bear  and  bring  only  the  fn^'s  of  tlie 
flesh  have  no  right  to  call  God  their  father,  vo  ir  ^i 
never  yet  begat  one  chdd  ;  and  as  man  i's  one;-  he  has  net 
two  fathers  that  both  begat  him  in  the  first  birth.  So  it 
is  with  the  children  of  men,  they  cannot  be  the  children 
of  God,  and  the  children  of  the  Devil  b«th  at  o2ie    time^ 


(      124      ) 

therefore  they  that  continue  to  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  the 
flfish  are  not  the  children  of  God,  and  every-  time  that 
they  call  God  their  father  they  lie,  and  the  trutH  is  not  in 
them,  for  whilst  they  are  iii  their  sins  they  are  without 
the  likeness  of  God's  image,  but  they  are  in  the  likeness 
of  the  Devil. 


•  :-5K-:' 


CHAPTER  XL 

Cfthe  truly  Baptized. 

HAVI7*^G  just  finished  the  foregoing  chapter,  before 
I  arose  from  my  seat,  having  my  pen  yet  in  my  hand,  my 
mind,  is  drawn  to  write  some  more,  as  necessity  com- 
pels me  to  give  some  further  marks  of  the  truly  baptized 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  First, 
they  have  heard  the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  who  knocked 
Tit  the  door  of  their  hearts,  and' they  have  obeyed,  which 
Isd  them  to  that  repentance  that  need  not  be  lepented  of 
—secondly,  they  have  come  to  Christ  at  his  call,  and  have 
found  rest  to  their  souls,  by  taking  up  the  right  cross 
and  learning  of  Christ  to  be  meek  and  lowly,  by  which 
they  have  learned  to  do  justly,  show  mercv  and  walk  hum- 
bly  with  and  in  the  presence  of  God— -they  abhor  sin  and 
all  its  ways — they  grieve  to  hear  of  the  prosperity  of  sin 
m  any  man,  people  or  kingdom,,  but  they  rejoice  in  the 
righteous  fruits  of  grace,  &  in  the  righteousness  of  God^s 
bride — when  they  can  find  her,  they  love  her  more  than 
silver  ;  }ea,  more  than  abundance  of  fine  gold,.,  because 
she  is  a  favourite  of  their  God — they  love  God  aitdallthe 
things  he  has  made  for  his  own  glory — they  thank  him 
for  all  the  lawful  pleasures  of  this  life,  and  for  all  the  fa- 
vours they  receive — they  know  that  all  favours  are  of  his 
kind  j>rovidence,  and  are  truly  thankful  not  only  with  their 
lips  and  tongues,  but  with  all  their  hearts — there  is  nc 
feigned  pretence  in  them — tender,  merciful  and  compas- 
sionate to  ftil  things  that  have  life,  breath  and  being.—' 
When  vou  see  any  marked  with  this  mark  you  may  take 
it  for  granted  that  their  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world, 
but  are  heirs  to  the  kingdom,  of  heaveiij 


(      125      ) 
CHAPTER   Xir. 

Some  marks  ^Iven  of  those  that  use  the  for m^  instead  of  ths 
siidatance  Sf  baptism, 

AS  I  have  given  you  some  marks  of  the  truly  baptized, 
I  now  will  give  you  some  of  the  marks  of  those,  who  iiave 
been  only  baptized  by  the  hand  of  some  men,  who  dip- 
ped them  in  the  watery  or  poured  or  sprinkled  it  on  thcin, 
and  being  only  the  water  of  this  earth,  without  that  which 
came  down  from  heaven.  Tiie  infants  knoweih  no  evii 
when  this  ceremony  is  performed  on  them,  or  over  them, 
therefore  it  is  no  harm  to  those  ialam  babes  at  this  time  ; 
but  the  grown  persons  who  had  been  sinning  beiore  their 
watery  baptism,  and  remained  so  afterwards,  is  evident 
by  the  fruits  they  bring  forth,  and  is  a  notable  mark  by 
which  they  are  known.  Only  mark  or  notice  the  fruits 
of  wickedness  they  brin^  forth  after  they  are  baptized. 
This  contradicts  there  ever  having  been  baptized  in 
the  name  of  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  for  if  they 
Were  they  would  not  bring  such  cnrruptable  fruits.  Al- 
though they  go  to  meeting,  and  pray  and  sing,  and  do  not 
cat  at  their  table  without  taking  that  holy  name  in  words, 
as  they  say,  to  beg  a  blessing,  and  re  urning  wopds  like 
thanksgivings,  as  they  say  they  call  it,  do  not  lie  dowti 
«n  their  beds  without  bending  their  knees,  as  tho'  they 
prayed  to  God  for  his  merciful  protection  in  those  refresh- 
ing hours,  which  God  has  prepared  for  the  reiresbnient 
ef  man.  O  !  who  v/ould  not  think  that  all  of  these  were 
truly  lovers  of  God,  and  righteous  people,  when  they  see 
all  these  zealous  performances  ?  But  after  all  this  is  done, 
let  as  look  and  see  the  real  fruits  they  bear,  and  we  will 
leave  out  their  secret  thoughts,  which  the  Lord  and  them- 
selves only  know,  and  which  would  often  b«  put  in  prac- 
tice, if  God  did  not  prevent  them  irom  doing  as  their 
thoughts  and  secret  desires  v/ould  lead  them  to  do  ;  but 
we  will  only  take  a  view  of  their  visible  fruits,  which 
they  have  borne  and  are  bearing  since  they  were  baptized, 
and  used  A\  their  religious-like  performanc^-  Observe 
here,  how  they  can  and  do  curse  and  swear — take  God's 
holy  name  in  vain  in  an  angry  rash  manner — lie  for  ad- 
vantages— sometimes  sieal  and  cheat,  and  if  possible  get 

L  2 


(      126      ) 

the  advantage  of  their  neighbours  in  estGrtions,  orinfiay 
other  way  they  can  do  it,  without  bringing  themselves  *<) 
puuiic  rebuke — they  gi^t  cU-unk — take  tneir  neighbours* 
wives  and  commit  tormcation  with  them — defile  their 
neighbours'  daughters — musier  to  learn  war,  by  which 
-they  can  kill  and  shed  iheir  teilow-creatures'  blood  in 
slaughtering  them,  which  God  has  made  for  his  glory  ; 
for  man  was  first  made  for  God's  glory,  but  the  wicked- 
ness of  man  hath  turned  this  into  grieJ — they  can  ojjpress 
ail  they  can  get  under  their  power — clothe  them  with  the 
meanest  dress,  and  feed  them  with  the  scanty  allowance 
of  the  scraps  and  crumbs  of  their  tables,  sometimes  after 
their  favorite  lapdogs  are  fed  or  served — rash  and  harsh 
in  speaking — often  committing  unmerciful  deeds  in  a  bar- 
barous manner.  Look  at  the  proof  of  this  on  human 
backs,  which  witness  will  rise  up  against  them  in  the  day 
of  judgment.  There  is  but  very  little  patience  in  them, 
for  xhey  can  quarrel  and  fight  with  their  neighbours— 
sometimes  beat  and  abuse  their  wives  and  families — 
they  buy  and  sell  their  fellow-creatures  for  life,  who 
niiver  broke  the  law  of  liberty  by  their  own  misdemeanors 
— without  ^compassion— covenant  breakers,  departing 
from  their  words  and  promises  for  gain,  be  it  as  ua^ 
just  as  it  may — proud  boasters — inventors  of  evils — de?* 
pisers  of  others  that  are  of  a  better  principle  than  their 
own — pinch-guts,  grudgers  and  starvers,  to  get  a  little 
more  to  sell — greedy  of  gain,  let  it  be  ever  so  unjust,  if 
ihe  law  cannot  take  hold  of  them.  These  are  some  of 
ihe  open  marks  of  many  who  make  great  professions  of 
religion,  insomuch  that  they  go  through  all  the  likeness 
)f  religious  performances,  and  with  a  lying  tongue  call 
God  and  say,  Our  Father  which  art  in  heiiven,  hallowed 
be  thy  name.  Thy  kingdom  come.  Thy  will  be  done 
on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread,  and  forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors  ;  and  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver 
Lrs  from  all  evil  ;  for  thine  is  the  kingdom  for  ever.  A- 
men.  This  seems  to  be  the  end  of  their  pretended  der 
vctions,  in  which  performance  they  are  guilty  of  adding 
sin  to  their  iniquity,  by  their  hypocrisy  and  lies  in  call' 
ii:g  God  th^ir  fathier  when  he  is  not,  for  if  God  was  their 
'  ^'tcr,  they  would  love  hitu  aadkeep  his  commandments  i 


<     I2f     ) 

but  the  Devil  is  their  father,  as  long  as  they  do  the  De- 
vil's works,  and  bring  tbrtli  fruits  unto  siii.  As  long  as 
they  bear  the  fruits  of  the  tree  of  corruption,  they  are 
not  the  children  of  God,  any  more  than  a  tiiiid  begottei^ 
hy  a  negro  man,  and  brought  forth  by  a  negro  woman^ 
(which  of  course  would  be  black)  is  it  a  whiic  mun's.-i- 
Where  is  the  aian  amongbt  us  that  would  own  u  re^l  black 
child  to  be  of  his  own  begetting  t — audif  this  black  child 
was  to  say  that  such  a  whue  man  was  his  lather,  would 
it  not  be  a  lie  m  the  saTne  manner  it  is  with  those  who  call 
God  their  father,  when  at  the  same  time  tjiey  are  going 
on  iii  their  sins  i  xiow  is  it  when  they    only  ask   to  be 

forgiven  as  they  torgive,  and  yet  will  not  forgive  any  of 
their  feilow-crealures,  who  have  only  committed  small 
trespasses  against  them,  which  are  nothing  in  comparison 
to  t'leir  trespasses  against  God.    ■: 

Now  those  who  seem  to  ask  God'sjbi'giveness,  will  not 
forgive  a  small  trespass,  without  getting  many-fold  re- 
;?S^enge,  and  then  not  be  satishtd  nor  reconciled  ;  but  will 
!»pl:>r  tid  their  fellow -creatures  with  their  faults.  Is  not 
tliis  clearly  the  murk  of  many  people  of  this  day  ?  and  as 
a  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruits,  so  an  evil  tree 
xaniiot  bring  forth  good  truits  ;  but  men  and  women  can 
in  these  days  bring  the  likeness  of  good  fruits,  in  such  a- 
bundance,  that  it  leaves  even  the  wisr  in  a  puzzle,  to  de- 
termine Ahetier  they  are  re.  1  or  pretenae!.  Thus  1  have 
given  you  some  of  the  marks  of  those  who  are  true  chris- 
tians, and  of  those  who  have  only  the  bare  pretence  to 
that  worthy  name  ; — the  number  of  the^e  pretenders  is  so 
great  at  this  time,  in  our  country,  that  they  seem,  in  a 
few  years  more,  they  will  overrun  the  greatest  partot  it; 
so  much  so,  that  there  will  be  but  very  few. of  the  real- 
followers  of  Christ  in  it.     ' 


CHAPTER  XIIL 

0f  a  separation  bctzveen  the-  righteous  and  the  wicked  ;■ 
God^s  blessing  on  the  righteous, 

MY  dear  children,  I  have  <Tiven  you  a  plain  description 
«fthe  righteous   an4  c-f  the  wicked,     i  will  tell  you  fur- 


(      128      ) 

tlier,  that  the  righteous  are  u  !.ebless.ed,  for  thef  &rt^h 
ready  biebsed  ;  yea,  their  very  eyes  are  blessed  of  the 
Lord  in  this  vvojid,  ^nd  he  will  keep  and  preserve  all 
thd^e  who  truly  put  their  trust  in  him — ^and  ail  who  truly 
put  their  trust  in  nim  ;  are  now  only  living  and  waiting 
on  nim  for  his  second  call,  to  enter  into  the  eternal  joys 
of  their  Lord  ;  bat  the  wicked  are  already  sepanUed 
irom  any  real  enjoy  mcnts-which  God  gives  to  thejrighte<;us 
in  this  life  ;  and  if  now  separated,  what  separation  wifl 
they  meet  with  hereafter,  when  the  righteous  Lord  calls 
all  that  have  been,  all  that  are,  and  all  that  are  yet  to  be 
born  together,  to  give- an  account  of  their  deeds  in  this 
life,  at  his  judgment  seat  ;  where  Christ  will  pro- 
claim the  blessed  state  of  the  righteous,  by  proclaiming 
them  to  be  his  sheep  ;  which  he  will  set  on  his  right  hand, 
and  call  them  into  thejoys  of  their  Lord*  But  O  !  the  mis- 
erable and  dreadful  separation  that  will  now  take  place, 
between  his  sheep  and  the  sinful  goats,  whom  he,  (the 
Lord)  will  separate  from  all  joys,  and  place  them  on  his 
left  hand  ;  and  tell  them  to  depart  into  the  everlasting 
lire,  which  God  did  not  at  first  prepare  for  men,  but  fof 
the  Devil  and  his  angels  ;  but  as  these  wicked  men  and 
women  chused  him  (the  Devil)  to  be  their  king,  so  thejl 
aaust  go  to  his  place  w^ith  himo 


CHAPTER  XlVa 

All  7?:Grried  men  ought  to  keep  a  right  authority^  and  love 
God  more  than  their  wives 

I  really  thought  that  1  had  finished  all  I   intended  to 

i^rY'ne  ; but  I  have  been  nearly  two  weeks    plunged  int6 

the  deepest  sorrow  and  grief,  so  great^  that  my  bodily 
life  was  ro  pleasure  to  me.  My  grief  took  its  first  rise 
from  that  quarter  which  hurts  my  feeling  above  all  things 
®n  earth  ;  for  I  am  a  man  ol  lo;ire,  and  that  of  a  sin- 
cere kind,  towards  my  God  and  all  his  precious  gifts  ; 
but  above  all,  (save  three  and  one  of  the  three  is  the  pre- 
€ious  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  who  is  the  teacher  of  all 
good)  I  say,  that  I  love  a  wife — a  woman,  more  than 
any  other  gifts  of  God  in  this  life  ;  (saving  the  ihree  be* 


f      129     ) 

fbre  mentioned)  they  are  and  oight  to  be  b'jloved  b)''  alt 
men,  and  not  misused  by  any.  But  altbo'  I  love  a  ^vo- 
man  above  all  tain.^s,  (saving  three)  yet  my  ^ief  has  beea 
occasioned  by  them  more  than  by  all  the  other  gifis  of 
God  ; — for  love  &  peace  are  the  riches  of  my  life,  Sc  when 
I  am  robbed  of  those  riches,  I  have  nothing  of  God's 
earthly  gifts  to  take  pleasure  in-,  until  I  can  find  my  riches- 
again. 

My  dear  sons  and  daughters,  I  pray  you  to  use  all  the 
gifts  of  God  with  love  and    thanksgivings    for   all  God's 
gifts  are  given  freely  of  the  Lord  to  make  your  lives  hap- 
py in  this  world  ;  therefore  use  all  God's  gifts  to  increase 
your  happiness  in  this    life.     It  was  to  make  man  happy 
in  this  life,  that  God  bestowed    so  many  gifts  for  man's 
happiness  so  freely.     M-i^ditate  and  think  on  God's  kind 
providence  in  giving  so  many  things  to  nourish  us  in  this 
world.     Consider  how  much  all  of  you  are  in  duty  bound 
to  love  and-  thank  God  for  all  his  precious  gifts.     Never 
do  any  thing  that  will  grieve  his  Holy  Spirit ;  for  the  love 
of  his  Spirit  are  the  riches  and  J03/S  of  all  his  saints  and 
holy  angels— as  it  is  thus^    I  pray  you  all  to  walk  in  the 
path  of  love  to  God,  to  one  another,  and  to  all  human  be- 
ings— unto  the  beasts  of  the  earth,  and  to  all  things  that 
breathe  with  the  breath  of  life.     Do  not  bring  any  design- 
)^d  distress  on  any  thing  that  can  feel  a  sense  thereof.     - 
•     IVTy  dear  sons,  I  command  you  to  love  and  be  kind  to 
your  wives,  because  they  are  God's  gift  to    be  your  com- 
fort and  pleasure  in  your  lonely   hours  ;  yet  do  not  love 
them  to  sin,  by  obeying^or  humoming  them  before  God, 
as  many  men  have  done  to  their  own  ruin  ;  but  love  them 
with  tenderness  and  kindness.     Walk  in  the   wa^^  of  the 
Lord,  that- is,  the  ways  he  has  commanded  men  to  walk 
in  ; — never  be  enticed  to  do  any  thing  unjust    or  unholy>, 
to  satisfy  the  desires  of  your  wives,  but  fear  the  Lord  and 
keep  that  lawful  authority  which  God  has  given   you,  to 
•  jEule  over  all  who  live  under  your  care» 

— ^wai»<^  HI— I 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Second  charge  tojny  Daughters^  to  discharge  their  duties 
in  Uve  to  G$d  and  their  husbands, 

MY  dear  daughters,     I    pray  vou     all    to    dis<^-'>arge 
vGur  duties  in  love  to  God,  who  is  head  of  all,  and. to  be 


(.    rso 

Ifonoiired,  sensed  and  obeyed  above  all ;  this  is  your  first 
duty.     Your  second  duty  is  to  love  your  husbands,  honor 
and   obey    them  in   all  their  just  and   lawful   requests  or 
commands.     I  say,  obey  your  husband   as  head  cr  king, 
as  God  has  made  him  such  over  his  own  family,   and  you 
are  in  duty  bound  to  do  so.     L.ove  your  husband  with  all 
^nderness  and  kindness — do  not  withhold  any  pleasure 
from  him,  by  staying  unnecessarily  from  his  company,  aS 
practised  by  many   married  women,    for    the  pretended 
sake  of  seeing  their  kindred,  &c.   Never  suffer  any  other 
man  on  earth  to  come  nigh  thy  husband's  particular  trea- 
sure, made  and  committed    by  God  to  thy  care,  to  keep- 
safely  for  the  glory  of  thy  husband.    Consider  how  many 
unhappy  families  there  are  on  earth  at  this  time,  and  you 
will  find  that  all  happened  by  the    want  of  care  to   avoid' 
the  evil  desires  of  a  carnal  mind,  and  the  want  of  a  faith- 
ful discharge  of  their  duties  towards  God  &  their  husbands , 
I  command  you  all,  my  dear  daughters,  to  love  God — 
your  husbands — -your  children,  and  all  feeling  things  un- 
der your  care  ;  and  if   kind    providence     gives    you  ^by 
your  Ijejl^ful  endeavours)  plenty  to  live  on,  pray  to  God  to 
give  you  a  heart  with  power  to  live  on  what  he  has  given 
you  ; — do  not  like   some   other  women,  v;ho   often  fttd 
their  families  with  the  meanest  and 'scantiest  meals,  and 
if  at' any  time  there  happeneth  some    pleasant  breads    o^ 
other  provisions  sat  on  their  tables,  they  wmII  look  With  an 
envying  eye  at  those    who   are    eating,    and   sometime^- 
snatch  it  away  and  say,  '*  be  not  like    gluttons  and  hurt 
yourselves."     Poor  evil  eyed  creatures,  who  will  say,  "  I 
want  som.e  left  for  to-morrow — do  not  cut  the  loaf,  ther^ 
IS  enough  without^ — here  is  a  piece  of  the  old  loaf,  '  (^6^ 
pone)  it  is  good  enough — it  must  be  eaten — it  must  not  be 
thrown  away  to  the  dogs  ;^'    altho'  the  poor  dogs  look  as 
if  they  were  in  the  most  starving   state,    yet     they    are 
only    allowed  a  scanty  share    of  crumbs,    and   are    not 
to  have  any  of  the  old  loaf,  which  is  perhaps    beginning 
to  mould,  so  much  so,  that  a  well  fed  dog  would  scarcely 
taste  it,  yet  some  poor  pinch-guts  will  make  their  fami 
lies  eat  it  or  do  without.     Look  at  these  poor  pinch-gut 
ted  women's  dogs,  they  look  as  if  they  had  no  belly,  thev 
are  so  starved  that  they    must  die  or  seek  for  food  some 
where  else^      O   my  dear  daughters  fies  from  all  thefee 


<      13 1      ) 

^boTninatlons-'-try  to  use  your  skill  and  undcrstam^itt^; 
in  making  your  families  happy  with  your  love  and  jusi  li- 
berality— let  your  eyes  look  to  all  they  need — use  all 
things  under  your  care  with  tenderness — ihank  God  lor 
all  things  in  your  power,  which  he  in  his  kind  providenie, 
has  given  you  for  your  comfort  &  support,  and  let  nothiii^ 
be  lost  or  wasted  by  your  idleness  or  neglect. 


CHAPTER  XVr. 

Of  the  necessity  to  walk  in  the  love  and  fear  of  God — of  the 
three  friends  and  three  noisy  thmg-s  o?i  earth, 

MY  dear* children,    I  hope  that  by  this  time  yoti  know 
.that  it  is   necessary  to  walk  in   the  love  and  fear  of  God, 
this  I  again  recommend  you  to  do,    and  also  to  give  no 
offence lo  any  on  earth  or  heaven — try  to  live  that  inno- 
cent life,  that  will  preserve    the  great   friendship   of  the 
three  friends  prepar*.^d  for  us  in  this  life — be  not  wicked 
in  any  thing  that  will  break  and  destroy  the  friendship  of 
these     three    friends,      for     mankind    have    but    these 
three    friends    in     this  life,    and     it  is    dangerous    for 
.them,    by    bad     condact  to  loose  the  friendship  of  any 
-tOne^qf  these  three.     Thinking  that  you  want  to  know  wh© 
these  three  friends  are,  and  I  willing  that  all  should  know 
.theui,  I  will  tell  you  that  God  is  one  of  them,  being  the 
\iiead  over  all  ;  tiie  second  is   mankind,  and  the   third  is 
the   beasts    of  the  earth.  It  is  dangerous   for  any  person 
to  give  oifeuce  to  any  of  them,  either  in  heaven  or  earth. 
In  .ie;n  en  iher   are  hre«     orthy  of  glory  j  they  are  the 
♦jFather,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost^-on  earch  there  is  but  one 
v/orthy  of  p'-aise  ;    that  is   the  goodness  of  God    and  "of 
tbose  that  dwell    in  it.     There   are   but    three  things  oa 
earth  that  make  any  noise  ;  they  are  fire.,  water  and  air  ? 
f:ake  thes      hree  things  away,  aa»:l  all  would  be  as  silent  as 
the  grave— if  we  could  keep  these  three  things  in    subjec- 
tion to  the  law  of  God,  we  should  never  sin~a  measure 
'  of  these  three  things  is  both  in  man  and  beasts,  and  thro' 
>-he  wisdom  of  God,  who  has  place-d  those. three  different 
<^lements  in  us,  we  are  kept  in  life  to  do  his  will  on  earth, 
■^as  it  is  done  in  hciveiu     There  is  no  allowance  made  by 


r 


<      ISS     ) 

thelvord  for  us  to  sin  with  these  three  gifts,  but  if  we  are 
so  unwise  as  to  sin,  the  Lord  has  prepared  a  work  for  us 
to  do,  which  is  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  in  Je- 
6US  Christ,  whom  if  we  will  receive,  he  has  promised  to 
ibrgive  and  receive  all  who  will  call  and  return  unto  him, 
'^ith  true  humiliation  of  heart. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Do  not  forget  the  commandments  of  the  Lord. 

MY  dear  children,  take  care  that  you  do  not  forget  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord  as  many  do,  particularly  the 
one  by  which  we  are  commanded  to  do  to  others  as  \i.ti 
would  they  should  do  unto  us.  Do  not  think  that  other« 
ought  to  serve  you  any  more  than  you  should  serve  them, 
for  my  part  I  believe  that  there  is  more  honor  in  serving 
than  to  be  served  ;  and  I  do  not  think  myself  in  any  ways 
above  the  poorest  man  on  earthy,  or  even  above  the 
poorest  debased  negro,  if  he  has  good  principles  ;  yet  I 
think  myself  as  good  as  any  of  the  kings  on  earth  or  their 
nobles,  for  if  their  principles  are  no  better  than  mine,  thej 
.cannot  be  any  better  than  myself.  But  pride  has  sat  itself 
up  to  be  a  master,  and  its  opinions  are  followed  by  i#any  ; 
this  you  may  plainly  see  by  their  conduct,  for  they  want  t» 
be  served,  and  not  willing  to  serve.  Notice  how  they 
will  call  on  another  to  come  and  do,  or  go  and  do  this  or 
that  thing,  who  is  not  as  able  to  do  as  they  themselves-, 
but  if  they  were  to  do  to  others  as  they  want  others  to  do 
to  them,  they  would  be  more  like  Christians  and  brethren 
thun  they  are.  Look  at  the  young  men  calling  on  the 
grev-headed  or  sickly,  to  go  or  come  and  do  this  or  that, 
when  they  are  much  more  able  to  do  it  themselves,  they 
will  suffer  thirst  before  they  will  go  to  the  well  or  spring 
fcr  water  to  quench  it  ;  nay,  they  will  suffer  cold,  before 
they  will  lay  their  hands  to  carry  wood  to  make  them- 
seives  a  fire  with  ;  but  they  will  wait  for  the  aged  or 
pooiiy,  or  call  them  to  do  it.  Thus  you  may  see  that  there 
is  only  iew  but  what  are  willing  to  be  waited  on,  but  they 
ar-:;  not  willing  to  wait  on  others  as  they  are  willing  thi^t 
txhers  should  waii  on  them* 


C      133     ) 

My  clear  children,  keep  yourselves  from  such  unjust 
dealings,  do  not  think  thiit  you  are  above  waiting  on  your- 
selves ',  but  if  through  age,  sickness  or  disability  you 
cannot  do  so,  then  it  will  be  lawful  for  you  to  get  some 
other  person  to  wait  on  you.  As  this  is  often  the  case  in 
this  country,  I  pray  you  to  consider  the  toil  andhardshi[> 
of  those  who  may  be  called  to  do  the  business,  or  waiting 
on  you,  which  your  inability  requires — bo  patient  and  in- 
structive towards  all  hireling  servants — be  kind  and  give 
them  their  full  wages  without  delay,  by  pctying  them  what 
is  just  and  right  j  yea,  if  it  is  by  a  double  reward,  it  shall 
not  by  money  lost  ;  but  the  righteous  Lord  shall  make  it 
a  blessing  to  you,  and  in  that  blessing  you  shall  be  made 
whole  for  your  generous  dealings  with  your  hireling  ser- 
vants— do  not  forget  theories  of  the  poor  labourers,  for 
some  have  been  defrauded,  and  these  will  cry  to  the 
Lord  that  he  may  see  justice  done  unto  them. 

Thus  I  end  my  advice  to  my  children,  and  to  all  my 
dear  fellow-creatures,  who  I  trulv  desire  may  so  liv^e  as 
^e  gain  an  inheritance  with  the  saints  in  glory,  Amen. 

Ail  written  by  me, 

PETER  CLEMMONS,  Senr. 

i6th  dav  of  the  9ch  m.onth,  1811. 


CHAPTER  XVIir. 

"^hs  danger  of  stoplng  short  of  entering  the  hohf  land^  and 
of  receiving'  the  image  of  God  again, 

'i5th  of  <^th  months  1811. 
BEING  in  my  private  room,  my  soul  was  covered 
with  the  spirit  of  prayer  to  my  God,  that  it  would  pi  ase 
him  to  separate  all  mankind  from  their  sins,  and  jzatbtr 
them  in  his  holy  kingdom  of  peace  and  love.  In  these 
tender  moments  of  God's  merciful  visitation  to  Uie,  my 
thoughts  were  turned  again  to  my  dear  children,  to  give 
tbem  a  more  particular  advice  to  shun  all  evils  j  least  they 
should  stop  short  of  entering  the  holy  land,  and  set  down 
to  rest  before  they  got  to  the  land  of  hoiint  ,  -.ere 
Chriat  and  hia  saints  live,  in  the  sweet  harmonious  love 

M 


'J 

(      134     ) 

4.f  God  ;  for  there  is  no  safe  resting  place  before  we  reacts 
this  blessed  land.     Having  great  reason  to  fear  that  thou- 
sands that  are  called  to  come  out  of  Egypt,    and  actuallv 
sat  off  to  travel  out  of  it — do    leave  off  some  of  the  most 
shameful  part  of  their  sinful  labours,  and  find  themselves 
freed  from  some  of  the  m.ost  heineous  crim.es,  they   suf- 
fer themselves  to  be  deceived,  either   willingly  on   igno- 
rantly  ^  and  because  they  have  travelled  from    the  worst 
of  open  sins,    and  gone  so  far  in  the  right  way   a§  to  be 
noticed  by  some  society,  they  travel  on  until  they  enter  a 
place  called  the  outward    court,  and  as  soon   as  they  get 
there,  they  fix  their   tents  therein  with  contentment   and 
Z-  al,  and  never  advance  any  further    towards  the   holr 
land  ;  for  here  they  get  a  name  to  live   amongst  the  out- 
ward worshippers — amongst  a-set  of  anti-christians,  wh« 
acknowledg'e  the  name  of  Christ,  but  do  not  depart  from 
al!  evils-^the.y  have  got  no  further  than   the    crafty    hea- 
then'can  come — here^ they  are,  and  here  they  are  only  fix- 
ed under  a  more  moderate  bondage  ;  and  finding    them- 
selves under  a  more  moderate    service  to    sin,  they  will 
hardly    believe  that  many    of   their   unclean  and  unholy 
de/ids,  or  words,  ar^  offensive  to    God.     When  they  are 
repL.Qved  by  those  who  continiie  faithful  in  their  jouriM.y, 
and  will  not  stop  ro  worship  until  they  pass  the  place  call-    . 
ed  the  regenerating  waters,  in  which  they  wash  until'"  they   I 
are  cleansed    from  all  their  uncleininess,    and  until  they  l 
enter  the  gates  of  the    holy   land  into  the  inward   court, 
where  they  join  the    true   worship  of  God  ;    ye^,  I  say  ' 
some,  and  not    only  some   of  tlie   outward   worshippers, 
ivhta  reproved  by  the  iaithful  ones^     will  scarcely  be  ieve 
that  tl.cir  fruits  is  sin  ;    nay,    they    will  not    believe,  but 
sa}"  in  an^\A  er  to  the   reprover,    "if  tarn  never   guiity  of  _ 
wor&e  xleed-s  than  this  or  that,  I  shall  not  be  afraid  to  die  ; 
and  if  this  or  that  is  sin,  God  help  the  world,  for  no  body 
will  1>^  saved  ;'*  many  of  the«e  will  also  say,    ih.it  S^  lo- 
jnon  said,"  that  ther«  was  a  tiiVie  for  all  things,  and  that 
such  a  one  did  so  and  so,  and  wds  he  not  a  good  man  ?" 
O  my  dear  children,    flee  from  al   th»^s€,    and  from  ^W 
ih'/-x  counsel  ;  and  never  stop  short  of  entering  the  luAy 
i?nd.     Be  not  deceived  by   Satan's  false  dreams,  for  he  j 
■wil'  fftve  VOM  manv  of  them  if  you  n  ill  receive  theni*      Hy ' 
tl'asc  drtAJns  you  will  find  ^---t  you  aregrea^^'^"  'v^'^vpri  ]n 


(    IS-;    > 

rour  ways,  and  that  you  are  as  righteous  as  any  of  your 
aeij^hbours — that  voii  can  pray  very  well — so  well,  that 
5^ou  will  be  proud  &  lifted  up  ;  nay,  you  will  dream  and 
think  that  it  is  so — that  you  are  better  than  such  a  one, 
and  be  deceived  so  far  as  to  make  you  think  or  say,-  that 
vou  would  not  be  so  bad  as  such  a  one  Or  such  a  one,  for 
all  the  world— he  will  give  you  in  his  dreams  a  sight  of 
the  sins  and  unclean  deeds  of  others  ;  but  he  will  l/ide 
all  yours  from  your  eyes.  Take  care,  my  dear  children, 
for  in  tender  momeiats  I  w^as  brought  to  fear,  least  you 
should  be  deceived,  and  stop  short  of  eiUering  into  the 
holy  land  :  therefore  I  must  give  you  som.e  of  the  names,^ 
^f  places  that  are  dangerous  for  you  to  camp  at,  nt)r  to 
i'aise  your  tents  near  thereto. 

Dear  children,  God  is  *a  just,  merciful,  loving  and 
^ood  God  ;  in  his  image  he  created  man  in  the  beginning, 
Sut  by  man's  transgression  he  lost  it  ;  he  cannot  find  this 
precious  image  again,  unless  he  enters  the  holy  land  ;  for 
God  has  called  his  image  out  of  all  unholin^ss,  and  hath 
f>laced  it  in  the  land  of  holiness,  and  all  who  are  desirous 
receive  it  again  must  ^o  to  the  holy  lan<l,  before  they 
,  can  receive  or  have  it  restored  to  them  agfiin.  All  whD 
go  to  the  grave  before  they  receive  the  image  of  God 
again,  in  which  man  was  first  created,  will  be  found  nak- 
ed and  without  the  wedding  garment  in  futurity  j  for  the 
imag6  of  God  was  the  first  garment  that  man  v^hs^  finu 
clothed  with,  and  as  long  as  he  kept  it  in  obedience  to 
God,  he  knew  no  shame  ;  bat  by  sinning,  he  stripped 
himself,  and  cast  the  holy  garment  away  and  became  na- 
ked* by  which  he  v/as  brought  to  know  shame*  But  now 
there  are  so  many  in  the  habit  of  going  naked  so  longv 
that  they  are  not  ashamed,  to  be  found  without  thi^ 
righteous  garment,  which  is  the  image  of  God »— -they 
,  have  gone  naked  so  long,  that  if  they  can  get  the  fig-Ieat 
>co\  ering  they  make  it  do  ; — there  are  so  many  of  this 
sort  of  people,  that  one  is  not  ashamed  of  another^  and 
here  stop  short,  set  down  and  rest  by  the  way,  without 
getting  to  the  place  where  they  might  receive  the  image 
of  God.  O  my  dear  children,  let  nothing  satisfy  you  un-' 
til  you  receive  the  image  of  God — remember  my  descrip- 
tion of  it,  and  never  stop  your  spiritual  travel  unjil-  voa 
'  ceive  it,   and  that  from  the  hand  of  the   Lord  ;  for  up 


(      135      ) 

other  can  give   It  to  you.        Therefore   mind  that  you- 
do  not  stop  where  there  is  injustice  of  any  kind,  but  pass 
by  and  go  c«  to  the  place  of  true  justice  ;    for  many  stop 
short  at  that  unholy  place  called    injustice,    where  much 
thereof  is  committed  to  both  mp^n  and  beasts — you  must 
not  stop  here,  but  go  on   until   you  come  to  the    place 
•where  the  just    image  of  God    stands.     In  this  place   of 
justice  men  are  not  only  just   in  paying  their  contracted 
debts  ;  but  they  are  so  in  ail  things — to  all  men  and  to  all 
beasts  that  come    under  their  care  and  power.     In    thir 
place  where  the  just  image  of  God    is  to   be   found,    the 
black  man  has  an  equal  right  with  the  white  man— -there 
is  no  respect  paid  to  colour — neither  any  one  (in  this  jur : 
place)  eat  of  the   forbidden  fruits  of  injustice  in  any  kinc 
of  action  committed  against  man  or   beasts,    without  sui 
fering  death  :  this  is  the  law  of  the  holy  land — as  soon  a:, 
any  one  eats  of  these  forbidden  fruits,  he  or    she    loose: 
the  life  of  the  just  image  of  God,  and  their   eyes  will  b- 
brought  to  see   their  nakedness,  and  feel    the  loss   oftb- 
image  of  God  ;  I  mean  their  own  loss,    for  they  will  be 
stripped  of  the  image  of  God,  and  that  image  will  be  re- 
turned to  its  holy  place  ;  there  to  be  kept  pure   and  holy 
forever — no  unjust  people  shall  be  clothed  with  this  holy 
garment  ;  Stall  who  lose  it  will  become  naked,  altho'  they 
may  make  themselves  fig-leaves  aprons,  and  clothe  them- 
selves with  empty  professions — put    on  the  robe  of  bap- 
tism  in  or  with  earthly  water,  and  all  the  ornaments  worn 
by  the  unjust  at  the    communion   table — with  all  the  fine 
superfluous  words  called   prayer— with    their    ejaculated 
grace,  and  their  pretended  thanks,  which  they  are  so  par-  . 
ticular  to  wear  at  their  tables  ;    \et  after  all  these    gre;>t 
preparations,    they  will  be   found  naked  whensoever  they 
eat  of  the  forbidden   fruits    of  injustice,    and   musjt  taate 
death  ;  '^  for  out  <f  the  holy  paradise  he  must  ttistc  death 
before'the  flaming  sword  will  suffer  him  (or  her)  to  taste 
of  the  tree  of  life  any  m.ore." 

Thus,  my  dear  children,  be  on  your  guard,  and  be  not 
enticed  bv  false  friends,  to  stop  and.  pitch  your  tents  near 
the  borc^ersof  the  land  of  injustice  ;  for  no  true  christians 
live  there  ;  but  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  unholy  place,  are 
heitbens  mixed  wiih  anti-christians,  who  are  willing  to  be 
called  christians  ;  but  are  not  wiiliDg  to  put  away  the^un- 


(      137     ) 

jtist  gains  they  make  in  many  ways,  especially  by  taking 
the  whole  h\bour  of  other  men  away,  and  putting  it  to 
their  own  use,  by  which  they  are  lifted  up  and  must  be 
called  masters  7  and  they  who  labo^ir  to  support  their 
greatness  are  only  called  slaves,  and  are  bought,  and 
sold,  and  dealed  by  as  such — some  of  these  masters  are 
not  as  kind  to  them,  as  the  law  was  to'  the  ox  in  the  days- 
of  Israel,  for  that  law  did  not  suffer  the  mouth  of  the  ox 
to  be  muzzled  ;  but  some  of  these  ornamented  pretenders^ 
ha-  e  nmzzled  the  month  oi  the  ;  cor  ailiicteci  black  people, 
(which  they  call  slaves)  by  putting  locks  and  gags  to  their 
mouths,  which  prevents  the  poor  sufferers  from  eating  orf 
te  bread  of  their  own  labour,  &.  whith  came  by  the  sweat 
of  their  own  faces,  driven  out  by  the  severity  of  their 
masters,  mistresses,  or  unmerciful  overseers,  these  poor 
men  (who  they  call  slaves)  are  sold  at  pleasure,  as  tho' 
God  had  m.ide  part  of  the  human  beings  to  be  lords,  S<:  the 
other  part  to  be  slaves,  and  be  robbed  by  their  lordly  mas- 
ters of  the  labour  of.  their  hands,  and  ail  things  that  is 
Bear  and  dear  to  a  free  white  man. 

Omy  dear  children,  let  this  speak  to  you  all  when  my 
body  is  laid  in  the  silent  grave  ;  and  as  you  are  not  to 
stop  your  travel  until  you  get  to  the  just  image  of  God — • 
you  must  also  not  stop  until  you  see  the  merciful  image 
of  God  ;  for  justice  and  mercy  are  two  of  the  members  of 
God's  image  ;  therefore  you  must  pass  by  the  borders  of 
unmerci fulness,  for  all  wfto  stop  here  and  stay  in  this 
plcice  of  unmercifuiness  until  the  dav  we  ca'ii  deati-,  are  to 
havejudgment without  mercy  ;  for  tht-y  who  stop  in  this 
cruel  place,  are  enemy  to.  God,  to  man,  and  to  the  beasts 
— committing  unmerc  ful  deeds,  by  I  eating  and  a!)us:'njr 
both  men  and  beasts  mider  their  power  ;  and  altho'  they 
are  guilty  of  so  much  cruelty^  (for  a  pretence)  they  will 
go  to  meeting,  preach,  pray,  sing,  and  call  one  another 
christians,  and  desire  that  others  should  call  and  believe 
them  to  be  such.  But  they  are  not  christians  of  the  true 
Christ  of  God  almighty,  biu  the  worst  of  deceivers  and 
hypocrites  in  this  world. 

If  you  w^ant  to  be  in  joy,  peace  and  happiness  in  this 
world  &  hereafter^  you  must  pas8  by  this  great  city  of  un- 
luercifulness — be  not  enticed  to  stop  near  or  within  some 

M  2 


(      ^38      ) 

thousands  of  miles  of  this-oiii-frdcring  city,  for  all  who  Mve^ 
therein  or  even  within  the  suburbs,  are  strangers  to  the 
love  of  God,  which  is  love  to  every  thing,  (sin  only  ex- 
cepted) for  God  hates  sin  and  every  evil  deeds  of  those 
who  hate  any  of  the  work  of  his  holy  hands,  be  it  to  man 
or  beasts  ;  bur  if  any  of  you,  my  dear  children,  should 
get  within  thesiaful  gates  of  this  unmerciful  city,  let  your 
immediate  cry  oy  to  the  Lord  of  mercy,  to  send  his  pow- 
erful spirit  to  take  you  out  of  this  most  dangerous  place  ;. 
you  must  also  pass  on  from  this  sinful  city,  and  goon  un- 
til you  come  to  the  promised  land,  where  you  will  receive 
^e  just,  the  mercitul,  and  the  lovely  image  of  God — after 
receiving  this,  it  will  be  easy  for  you  to  obey  God's  ci^m- 
mandmentSj  for  then  you  can  from  your  hearts  love  and 
pity  all  those  who  wrong  you,  and  forgive  all  men  who 
trespass  against  you,  in  the  same  manner  you  prayed  to 
God,  in  what  is  called  the  Lord's  pra}er, .to  forgive  you 
— you  can  aho  bless  those  who  curse  you,  and  pray  that 
God  may  continue  his  mercies  towards  those  v/ho  spite- 
fully use  you — that  it  would  please  the  God  of  all  mercies 
to  redeem  those  poor  sinful  captives  of  Satan,  and  bring 
them  to  the  enjoyments  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  God, 
love  and  peace  ;  yea,  I  say  it  v/ill  be  easy  for  you  to  for- 
give these  poor  sinful,  ignorant,  abusive  creatures  ;  for 
once  vou  get  to  the  holy  iand,  and  receive  the  image  of 
God,  you  will  be  delivered  from  the  desire  of  revenge, 
or  for  those  poor  creatures  to  have  any  suffering  re w^ard 
to  come  on  them  for  the  w^rongs  done  by  them  unto  you  ; 
vea,  instead  of  wanting  any  revenge  on  those  who  have 
abused  or  transgressed  against  you,  your  hearts  v;ill 
mourn  over  their  dangerous  state,  and  in  your  mourning, 
the  spirit  of  prayer  will  be  given  you  by  the  lovely  image 
of  God — you  will  fervently  pray  that  it  v/ould  please  God 
to  forgive  and  save  them  from  all  their  evil  ways  ;  thus 
you  will  feel  v/ell  under  the  covering  of  God's  just,  mer- 
ciful and  lovely  image,  v/hen  the  poor  injurious  persons 
will  feel  themselves  much  mortihed  and  miserable.  O 
ray  dear  children,  I  pray  you  all,  and  all  others  v/ho  may 
read  or  hear  this,  to  lay  it  up  in  your  hearts  ;  I  also  give 
you  all  xaution,  least  you  should  stop  in  or  near  thQ  last 
dangerous  place,  which  is  named  '-'-  badness  of  any  kind  ;'' ' 
diis  is  anouble  Bams  ;-'«-tbsr€fore  de  n^^  forges  it*  for 


C     139     y 

feav  you  should  stop  there — the  inhabitants  theteof  are 
ali  bad,  in  words  or  deeds^  and  will  not  believe  that  many 
ot  their  bad  words  and  deeds  are  sin  ;  for  even  some  of 
their  ministers,  will  plead  that  there  is  no  harm  to  kill- 
men  in  a  defensive  war  ;  yet  many  of  these  defenders 
give  the  first  offence — they  wiil  allow- privateering,  which 
is  as  bad  as  any  robbery  on  earth — for  what  is  the  differ- 

*  ence  between  robbmg  on  land  or  on  sea  ^  ought  there  nofe<>. 
to  be  a^  much  justice  done  on  sea  as    on  land^    and  why 
should  an  honest  man  be  robbed  of  his  allat  sea,  because 
he  lives  and  has  his  residence  in    another  nation  ? — is  he 

\not  a  human  being,  and  if  he  was  even  a  beast  instead  of 
a  man,  he  would  be  entitled  by  the  just  law  of  God,  to 
what  he  had  got  by  his  honest  labour.  Woe  be-  unto  him, 
(or  them)  that  by  craft  or  villainy,  take  any  thing,  from 
any  one,  by  land  or  by  sea  ;  for  not  one  ot  these  priva- 
teering robbers,    shall  escape   the  righteous  judgment  of 

,  God,  any  more  than  our  land  robbers,  which  (if  catched) 
arv-  to  be  put  to  death.  Their  ministers  say  it  is  no  sin 
to  buy  and  sell  black  people  and  make  them  slaves  for  life, 
justifying  themselves  by  Noah's  sinful  expression  in  curs* 
i^g  Canaan  his  own  grandson  ;  and  the  apostle  clearly 
shows  Noah's  error  in  two  cases  ; — first  his  drunkenness 
— secoiidiy,  his  unauthorised  expression  in  cursing  his 
vn  grand  son^  which  was  certainly  wrong;  for  out  of 
the  sanije  mouth  man  blesses  God  and  xiurses  man  made 
after  the  similitude  of  God,  and  ought  not   to  say  that  it 

.  is  imp  ;5sible  to  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God,  even  by  con-» 

I  vincing  compariscms ;  but  the  devil  tried  to  overcome 
Christ  by  making  use  of  the  scripture,  therefore   it  is  no  - 

-  wonder  if  these  deceived  ministers  deceive  the  bad  inclin- 
ed people,  who  are  not  willing,  to  part  with  their  unjust 
^  ns  for  Christ^s  sake-'-*-!  say,  it  is  no  wonder  they  de- 
ceive their  followers,  by  putting  a  wrong  construction  oil 
the  scriptures  :  for  two  of  the  greatest  evils  committed 
on  earth,. (except  blasphemy  against  the  Koly  Ghost)  are 
upheld  both  in  words  and  deeds  by  this  sort  of  mi-nisters,^ 
who  love  that  unjust  gain  which  God,  Ciirist,  and  all  his 

'  righteous  saints  have  and  v/ill  condemn  ;  that  is,  by  mak- 

4' slaves  of  the  unborn   before  they  transgress,    do  any 

iiarni^  or  forfeit  the  bonds  of  their  just  freedom,  which 

T>xi  manor*  earth  has  a  right  to  take  firosa  another  hefor-j 


C     140     ) 

itis  forfeited  by  some  misdem manors — nor  ought  tlie  child^  ^ 
to  suffer  for  the  father's  sins,  b)  liaving  his  fittdom  taken' 
from  him  by  force,  by  the  authority  of  an  uiijust  law  . 
which  sanctions  the  unjust  to  btli  his  fellow -creatures'  . 
for  life,  and  that  from  generation  to  generation,  to  be  j 
beaten  at  pleasure  by  all,  either  old  or  young,  to  gratify-  " 
their  passionate  natti-re.  All  this  avid  many  more  evils,-_ 
are  sat  forth  as  examples  by  some  of  these  preachers,,  to-  ; 
their  hearers  ;  and  as  long  as  this  is  their  examples  and'  • 
precepts,  it  will  be  a  miracle  if  any  of  their  followers  leave  : 
this   dangerous   bid   city.       But   my^  dear  children   and^ 

■'others,     ^I  pray  you  all  to  pass  by  this  dangerous  place^  ' 
for  thev  who  stop  within  and  die  there,  will  fail  short  of  ■ 
entering  God's  rest,  and  will  be  found  naked  and  without   I 
the  righteous  garment  of  God's  image,    when  the  king  of  j 
heaven  comes  to  see  the  justs  at  the  marriage  oi  his  son  -  j 
Christ  our   Lord.     O!    do  not  stop   there  or  any   where  J 
near  that  sinful  place,  altho'  there  is    all  kind  of  enchant-  ^ 
ing  musi-c  to  draw  your  attention — Isave  the  very  borders 
thereof,  and  pass  on  until  you  arrive  to  the  fourth  station 
of  life  into  the  promised  land  ;  there  you  will  receive  tlie 
ifnage  of  God  again,    and  be  m  de    alive  to  him  through 
Christ  our  Lord — ^being  clothed   with  the  just,   merciful 
and  lovely  image  of  God  you  will  be  prepared  for  his  glo 
jy  for  evermore.    Amen. 

Until  you  receive  these  four  parts,  (v*fz;)  justice,  mer= 
cy,  love  and  goodness,    (which  is  the  garment  of  grace) 
I'sav,  until  you  receive  this  blessed  garment,  never  cease 
your  spiritual  trrtvel;  forit  is  thr)sewho  hold  out  to  the  end  ' 
in  a  righteous  life,  that  are  to,be  saved- and  no  others-— 

,none  sh  11  dwell  with  God  &  Christ  but  those  who  have  th  s- 
holv  garment — no  hypocritical  garm.ents  shall  stand  before 
God  in  his  glory.  So  look  to  yourselves  and  to  the  Lord^.-  | 
for  I  think  that  I  now  have  discharged  my  duty,  by  writ- 
iirg  what  has  laid  on  my  mind  many  years  ;  that  is,  some 
part  of  the  foregoing,  the  other  occured  while  I  was 
writing. 

Written  bv  me,    (your  father)   and    finished  this   25th 
i^y  of  the  9th  month,  1811. 

PETER  CLEMMONS,  Ssnr^ 


(   1^1   ) 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Encouragement  ta  Shiners  to  come  to^  Christ  and  be 

Saved, 

MY  mind  does  not  feal  satisfied,  for  which  f  write 
the  following  lines  to  emcourage  sinners  of  all  ages,  to 
come  in  the  days  of  God's  mercy  and  serve  him  by  obey- 
ing hjm,  and  walking  in  the  blessed  counsel  of  that  o;)ick- 
eh  spirit,  which  teaches  us  to  deny  all  ungodliness  and 
the  world's  lusts— to  live  godly,  righteously,  and  soberly 
in  this  present  life  ;  and  as  we  have  Ciirist's  word  that 
all  sins  and  blasphemies  shall  be  forgiven,  except  th^ 
one  against  the  Koly  Ghost,  le^i^  come,  be  his  or  her 
sins  ever  so  numerous,  let  them  come  to  Christ,  the  light 
which  enlighteneth  all  that  come  to  the  kingdom  of  God 
~-all  that  cometh  Christ  will  not  cast  off  without  granting 
their  requests,  as  far  as  it  is  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God. 
For  your  encouragement  let  me  tell  you,  that  from  u 
child  I  had  a  secret  love  towards  righteousness,  but  be- 
ing raised  in  a  part  of  the  world,  where  there  was  but 
little  to  be  seen  besides  wicked  examples,  I  was  drawn 
into  many  sinful  deeds  and  words,  to  my  great  grief 
when  I  came  to  have  a  right  mind  given  to  me,  by  the  se- 
cret visitation  of  the  Lord, 

I  was  born  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  (as  I  have  been 
told)  1749,  and  from  the  time  I  was  capable  of  knowing 
the  vanities  of  this  life,  I  was  pleased  with  many  of  them, 
until  I  attained  the  age  of  three  or  four  and  twenty  years  ; 
though  in  this  time  I  had  many  secret  visitations  from 
the  Lord,  calling  on  me  to  depart  from  my  sins  ;  but  I 
did  not  obey  him  until  I  arrived  at  that  age,  then  his  mer;- 
ciful  visitation  operated  with  great  power  ;  not  by  tn« 
voice  of  men;,  but  by  his  own  voice,  at  which  I  then  did 
not  harden  my  heart,  but  was  humble  before  the  Lord  j 
my  soul  was  g^reatly  grieved  when  I  looked  back  and  saw 
what  a  sinful  creature  I  had  been,  to  sin  against  so  gra- 
cious and  merciful  a  God,  in  doing  and  saying  whati 
ought  not  to  have  done  or  said,  and  in  leaving  undone 
what  I  ought  to  have  done.  I  continued  in  my  grieving 
and  mourning,  until  the  following  date,  when  I  had  a 
dream  or  vision,  which  1  will  here  relate  for  the  encour- 


(      142      )' 

agement  of  poor  distressed  sinners,  to  come  to  Cfrfst, 
who  has  pron^ised  to  forgive,  or  have  'forgiven,  nil  sins 
and  blasphemies  which  they  in  igriGrance  have  commhted 
against  the  Son  of  Man. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
BREAM  OR  VISION, 

Wludi  happened  on  the  SQth  nig-ht  ofthej^rst  m&nth. 
CGlIcd  J'anuar'ij',  1777* 

THIS  night  I  separated  myself  from  all  company  ;  and 
liad  a  dream  or  vision  : — It  appeared  to  me  that  thert 
v^as  a  famine  in  the  land,  but  myself  and  some  other  per- 
son, (but  I  knew  not  who  it  was)  had  a  small  table  with 
bread  and  some  other  eatables  ready  cooked  on  it ;  I  had 
faith,  and  called  people  to  come  and  eat,  I  called  often 
and  loud,  and  told  them  that  the  bread  would  never  fail  , 
many  came  and  did  eat,  but  some  seemed  not  to  believe. 
After  this  there  appeared  to  be  a  great  want  of  clothing, 
but  I  and  another  one  had  a  small  store  of  clothing,  and 
in  the  same  manner  I  called  the  people  to  come  end  be 
clothed,  but  they  seemed  slow  incoming,  I  called  louder, 
and  many  people  came  and  were  clothed  ;  after  th«s  I 
went  before  them  to  goto  the  promised  land,  and  they 
followed  me  ;  we  had  a  vast  swamp  to  cross,  even  like  a 
\vilderness  and  there  was  no  road  through  it,  but  I  clear- 
ed a  way  for  the  people,  even  very  "great  trees  I  cut 
flown  with  one  stroke  and  put  them  out  of  the  way  by  the 
power  of  faith,  and  the  people  followed  miC.  After  we 
got  throik^h  the  wilderness,  we  came  to  the  promised 
land,  I  stood  in  the  gate  th^. reof  and  gave  the  people  a 
charge  concerninof  every  man's  profession  ;  I  told  t'^em 
that  ever\'  one  might  know  the  portion  of  his  inheritance 
by  finding;  his  own  name  written  on  the  door  of  the  horre 
ofhisown  profession  ;  &the  people  wei^t  into  the  prom'sed 
land,  I  also  went  in,  ever  into  tVt  city,  and  thert  -v>as  a 
great  store  of  goods  in  every  room,  and  thus  it  snded* 


(    us    ) 

CHAPTER  XXr. 

SECOND  DREAM  OR  VISION, 

Which  happeiied  on  the  IQth  night  of  the  3d  month  called 
March^  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1782. 

I  saw  three  men  which  I  thought  were  in  the  spirit  o^ 
drunkenness,  I  spoke  to  them  to  depart  from  me  until 
they  were  sober  or  clear  of  their  drunkenness  ;  and  then 
to  return  to  me  again,  and  one  of  them  seemed  thankful 
for  my  advice/'  After  this  I  saw  David  Young,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  society,  go  amongst  a  number  of 
peaple,  and  said  Young  and  the  people  seemed  to  be  at 
prayer,  after  the  manner  and  custom  of  the  Methodist  so- 
ciety; after  they  were  done  praying,  David  Young  told 
them  in  my  hearing,  that  while  they  were  praying  in  this 
manner,  they  thought  they  had  peace — after  this  he  rose 
and  said  that  their  peace  was  a  false  peace,  and  that  their 
prayers  were  in  the  way  of  will-worship,  that  is  to  say, 
in  man's  own  will 'and  time  :  immediately  I  sav/  this 
multitude  turn  after  the  Devil,  and  it  appeared  to  me  thit 
-they  would  all  be  destroyed  in  a  few  minutes,  with  ever- 
lasting destruction  ;  this  sight  laid  me  under  an  unutter- 
able concern  of  mind  and  grief  of  spirit,  which  caused  me 
to  go  amongst  them  ;  but  my  soul  was  so  troubled  that  I 
could  only  say  three  or  four  times  to  them,  awak: !  a- 
wake  !  My  concern  for  them  grew  so  great  that  I  cried 
grievously,  and  wept  very  loud  with  great  sorrow  of 
heart,  after  this  it  passed  away  and  1  slept.  But  1  saw 
these  people  a  second  time  turn  again  *after  the  Devil, 
and  t  appeared  to  me  as  if  the  Lord  won  id  destroy  them 
in  a  few  rfiinutes,  which  filled  me   again  with  unn.tterahle 

)rrow  ;  I  v/ent  amongst  them,  but  my  sorrow  grew  so 
great  that  1. could  not  speak  to  them,  I  broke  '~ut  in  cry- 
ins:  ^"^^  w  :e;-ing  so  lo'id,  that  it  awakened  .Y'^  wfe  who 
was  asleeri  by  me  ;  she  called  and  awaked  me,  hwx  did 
not  tell  her  what  I  had  seen.  I  went  to  sleep  afrain  im- 
mediately, a'od  dreamed  thai  I  was  telling  my  wif^  and 
some  other  women  what  I  had  seen,  and  it  appeared  as 
^f  it  took  some  eftect  on  them  \  I  awaked,  got  np,  went 
,Out  of  dooi's  and  presented  myself  before  the  Lord.  I 
*:^^eniiiito  my  lioussj    l.iid  down   on  my    bed  again,  bat 


(      lU     ) 

sleep  seemed  to  be    far  from   me  ;    however,    I  laid  still 
and  considered  on  what  I  had  seen — after  a  while  1  went 
to  sleep  again,  when  another  dream  or  vision  appeared  to 
me  ; — I  was  taken  up  in  the  air  between  heaven  and  earth, 
while  in  the  air  I  looked  in  a  house  through  a  door,  where 
I  saw  my  wife  and  others  ;  I  spoke  to  my  wife  and  went  ^ 
in,  while  there,    tear  came  on  me,    as  the    fear  of  thos€ 
who  think  they  see  a  spii  it,    but  presently  was  delivered 
from  it — I  went  out  of  the  house  to  fight  against  the  De- 
Til,  who  appeared  as  a  devouring  beast,    I  had  some  sort 
of  wei^Dons  with- which  I  fought  the  Devil  with — I  fought 
him  with  great  courage,  until  I  overcame   him  ;  he  then 
transformed  himself  to  another  colour,    but  I  knew  him 
and  fought  him  until  1  overcame  him  again,  and  thus  he 
continued    transforming    himself,    until   he  appeared  so 
near  like  Christ  that    some  who   were  by,  beholding  me 
fighting  him  spoke  to  me,    and  believed  I  was    fighting 
against  Christ  ;  yet  I  did  not   mind  what  they  said,    for 
I  knew  that  he  waa  not  Christ,  altho'  he  had  appeared  in 
so  many  shapes  and  colours,  sometimes  almo&t  white* — • 
After  I  had  overcoij  e    him  in  all  his  appearances,    then  » 
Christ  appeared  to  me  in  white,  and  I  knew  him,  I  was 
then  put  m  authority,  and  a  weapon  from   the  Lord  was 
given   to  me,  that  I  might  go  and  separate  the  righteous 
from  the  wicked  ;    I  went  in   one  place    to  do  so,    thers 
were  three  sorts    of  people — one  sort  I  was  to  shew  n-^ 
mercy  to,  but  1  was  to  destroy  them  with  the  weapon  that 
was  given  unto  me  ; — another  sort  of  people  were  favour- 
ed so  far  as  to  be  put  by  themselves,    that  if  they  would 
tur  I  &  bti-comefuUy  righteous,  they  should  'J   »  be  accept-ed 
and  admitted  amongst  the  righteous  ; — in  this  place  there 
were  a  great  many  people,  but  I  found  but  very  few  that 
were  fully   righteous — I  then  '  went  to   another  place  to 
separate,  where  th-re  were  als(*  many  people,  but  ui^ongst 
them  all  I  found  but  two  or  three  that  were  fully  righ- 
teous.    By  the  following  means  I  was  to  know  them  one 
from  another — the  righteous  were  clothed    all  in  white, 
from  the  sole  of  their  feet  to  the   crown  of  their  heads — 
those  who  had  no  white  on  them,    were   those  that  were- 
to  \)t  destroyed  and  have  no    m^rcv  ;  but  such  that   had 
some  white  on  them,    were  put  .in  a  place  by  themsdves, 
tiiatif  they  would  becoixie  fully  righteous,  they  should  be 


C     145     ) 

^...-^^.^u.  Of  ifiis  sort  of  people  there  was  a  great  many, 
which  I  aj)prehended  had  not  sinned  cijt  their  days  of 
grace  j  yet  they  were  not  suffered  to  be  with  the  right- 
eous ;  one  of  this  sort  of  people  I  observed  was  ait  in 
white  except  his   feet,   he  hid  them  for  fear  I  should  see 

ythem,  but   I  knew  by  his  hiding  them   that    he  was  con- 
demned.    Just  then  I  awaked,  and  found  that  it  was  da}»» 
ii^ht  ;  this  left  a  great  concern  on  my  mind,  so  muc'' 

»that  I  wrote  it  down  the  same  day. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

A  ietter^-hin^^  my  reasons  xvhy  Ileftihe  Methodist  society. 

ABOUT  fourteen  days  after  my  last  dream  or  vision, 
X  received 'a  letter  from  a  member  of  the  Methodist  so- 
ciety, which  letter  I  brought  with  me  from,  the  State  of 
Delaware,  to  -Guilford  county,  in    North -Carol  in  a.     Ic 

was  ray  intention  tq  have  it  printed  with  my  answer to 

my  sorrow  I  have  lost  it  ;  it  being  so  muny  yeai-s,  since 
■it  was  written,  that  by  some  means  or  other  it  got  out  of 
iny  possession,  for  I  have    dilligently    searchLd'amQnn-3t 
aii  my  papers  and  could  not  find  it  ;    and  as  1  omnot  Re- 
member the  contentsof  it  verbatim,  I  cannot  ha^e  it  print- 
€d,  altho'  I  would  much  rather,  for  then  both  side?  of  t->^-^ 
question   would  have    been  seen,   at  once  j    and  all  who 
might  have  seen  or  heard  the  wWe,  might  have  i;  tVcd 
^  themselves  ;  all    I  can  say  is,    that  I  had  foinedihe 
Mrthodist  society  and  left  them,    so  thai   manv'peopk^ 
vvantid    to  know  my    reasors    for    coino-    <^r^     'bi-t   d'd 
;^ot   give  them    until    Ueceiy  d  a  |ettt:r1f=o  ?a  ni^ruher- 
^tthat    society   requesting  U^.em,'  ar.d    rny  answer  is  c^s 
ioliows  : 

DEAR  FRIEND, 

I    received,  the  letter  seiit   by  thee  to  me  tliis  day  •— 

.::reforeIbelieve.itismy  duty   u.  return   th-^c- an  an- 

^swer,  touchuigtLe  things  whereof  thou  ban  writter  -for 

U  appears  to  me  that  thou  belit^vest,  that  I  am  in  a  s^ate 

olrtudlion   thraugh  Ignorance,    and  not  thiough  know- 


% 


f      146      ) 

ledge,  as  written  by  thee.     But  my  dear   friend,     thoii 
clost  not  see  as  I  see,  which  makes  me  appear  to  thee  and 
iiri'iny  people,  as    Christ  did  to    the   people    in    times  of 
old, 'which  caused  some  of  them  to  say  unto  him,  ''how- 
long  dost  thou  make  us  doubt  ?    if  thou  be  Clirist  t.)!  us 
ph».iL\iy."  .1  also  perceive  that  fear  and  doubts  have  arisen 
amongst  you,  because  I  have  left  the  visible  ways  of  men, 
that  I  might  more  fuHy  follow  the  way  of  the  spirit,  (that 
13  Christ  Jesus)  of  whom  I  have  received^more,  since  1 
^^ave  up  the   Class-paper,  than  I    ever  had  before.     But 
this  is  a  hidden  mystery  which  some  cannot  see  through* 
I  have  left  the  outward    discipline,    the    greatest  part  of 
v/hich  is  sat  up  by   men,  for  the  purpose  of  living  under 
the  governmer^t  of  Christ  Jesus,  to  be  joined  to  the  dis- 
cipline that  is  invisible,    and  set    in  our  heart^  through 
ihe  wisdom  of  the   Father  by    Christ   Jesus,    who   is- sat 
.over  all  God's  bles&ed,  for  evermore,  Amen. 

My  dear  friend,  it  se^ms  to  me   that  it  is  believed  by 
^omeoflhe    Methodist    members,   that  I  \  only   received 
Christ,  by  bearing  some  of  their   preache?^  or  members  ; 
iUatis  to  say,    that  some  of  them  were  the  instruments 
^f  God  who^has  caused  me  to  turn  from  darkness  to  light 
h\xi  my  <lear  friend,  I  g^ve  thee  and  all  others  whomighi 
.ask  me,  to  understand  that  1  have  called  things  to  remem 
brance,  and  cannot  remember  that   I   huve  ^  received,  ,ot 
ever  was  convinced  in  any  thing,  by  any  of  them,  of  what 
I  now  know  and  f^el  ;  yet    it  seem.s  that  thou  and  som.s 
.others  of  thy  soriety,    supposeth  that  I  had  not  put  oa 
Christ  befori  I  saw  and  heard  them,    and  which   makes^ 
tht'-m  to  want  to  examine   me  where  Irecei^  ed  Christ.— ^j 
JBut  i  hereby  certify  to  thee,  my  friend,  that  I  had  recejv-^ 
\cdC^^»i^. I  a  considerable  time  before  I  ever  saw  or  heard' 
any  cf  the  Methodist  society^— I  received  him  notof  meij^^ 
Jjut  from  hirtibythe  Father  ;    and  as    I  received   bim  h^ 
jgnve  me  power  to  walk   in  him  ;    sfid   as    i  continued  in} 
him  he  became  my  saviour—^s  ived  me  from,  darkness  andj 
ih€  wo'-iis  thereof — ^ftrr  that  1  feh  a  moving  in  me  tc 
?t\ard.m>\  brethren,  which  caused  me  to  go  and  call  then: 
to  reper*' i   ce.      i  h?s  I  did  soiiaetim^    before  I  saw  any 
called  Methodists^n  that  tim'     God  did  bh  ss  my  la 
I)  ur^j,  for  it  was  .carried  on  wiihoutthe  custor^iary  Icrm 
^a  /^er^i^Oiii-s  i--X  J^imlm  pra}  e.d  nor  sung  in  the  ccr 


(  ^^^  ) 

l^regation,  after   the  manner    used  amongst  you  ;    yet  1 
walked  according  to  the  direction  of  the  spirit  that  led  me 
outX)f  the  darkness  to  this  light,  and  to  the    direction  o 
the  Apostle   Paul,  given  by  him  in   his  epistle  to  Timo- 
thy ;  saying,  '•'  I  exhort  therefore,  that  first  of  all,  sup- 
plications, prayers,  intercessions,    and    giving  of  thanks 
be  made  for  all  men."     Now  my  friend,  thou  mayest  see 
that,.  I  was  called  all  alone  ;  for  I    obeyed  until  the  Me- 
thodists came  to  Lenoir    Williams',    then  I  heard  them 
bear  the  same  testimony  against  sin,  as  was   given   to  me 
before  to  bear.     At  this  time  there  was  a  messenger  sent 
to  me,  who  believed  that  the  Lord  sent  them  to  forewarn 
me  not  to  join  the  Methodists  ;  but  the  messenger  proved 
unfaithful,  and  did  not  deliver    me  the  mesrsage  ;  where- 
for    he  was  greatly  chastised   for  his  disobedience,  (as  I 
was  afterwards  informed.)     I  joined  the    society  of  the 
Methodists  not  by  aiiy  command,  but  the  Lord  suffered 
It  to  be  so.— ^I  learned  something  whilst  I  was  amongst 
them,  but  by  turning  to  the  spirit  who  at  first  did  q,uickcn 
me,  I  saw  by  the  light  thereof  that  I  must  leave  those  thhig^. 
ofFthatl  had  learned  of  them  (the  Methodists)  or  I  should 
perish,  and  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God.     Those  things 
are  as  followeth  ;    first,     that  which  is  called  by  thy  so- 
ciety, "  worshipping  God  by  prayer  and  singing." 

Stop  my  beloved  friend  !  do  not  let  any  antichrist  spi 
l-it  deceive  thee,  or  any  of  thy  society <,  so  as  to  make  any 
of  you  misapprehend,  or  wrongly  understand  me,  in  what 
I  mean  by  prayer  and  singing,  so  far  as  to  think  and  re- 
proachfully say  that  I  deny  praying  and  singing  to  the 
Father,  ^in  the  name  of  his  beloved  son  Jesus  Christ ;  for 
I  solemny  declare  in  the  presence  of  God  almighty,  whose 
.servant  I  now  am,  (and  was  before  I  ever  saw  any  per- 
son called  a  Methodist^  that  I  knew  of)  that  1  both  con- 
fess and  acknowledge,  that  there  is  one  way,  (and  but  one 
%vay)  to  pray  and  sing  to  the  Father,  that  is  certainly  ac= 
ceptable  to  him  ;  which  way  is  in  the  spirit  and  under- 
\ Standing  ;  (as  Paul  wrote  of)  this  is  the  way  that  I  con- 
fess and  follow  at  this  time,  (so  I  did  before  I  ever  kn'^w 
any  Methodists,  or  any  called  by  that  name.)  I  kno^ 
that  this  is  the  true  and  only  way'acceptable  to  the  Father; 
—•this  I  learned  of  Christ,  and  have  walked  in  it  evej^ 
:nc€.     All  who  pray  and  sing  aright  m^ist  walk  in  tlu^^ 


(      ^43      ) 

Vfav,  whxh  is  only  learned  of  -  ybv  Christ  Jesus  him« 
self.  No  man,-  woman  or  child,  can  possibly,  by  any 
iTieansoF  their  o\vtf,  bring  any  one  in  this  way,  but  any 
can  bv  the  spirit  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  whom  the 
Father  chose  for  this  pursose  before  theworld  was  known 
by  mankind. 

?*Tay    it  pleabc  my  heavenly   father,    who  of  his  own 
wisdom,  love  and  merry,  hath  begotten  me  again  unto  a 
lively  hope,  by  the  resurrection  of  his  son  Jesus  Christ 
from  the  dead  ;  in  my   heart  I  say,    that  it    may    please 
him  to  bring  thee    and  all  others,   (who  have  not  sinned 
out  the  day  of  their  grace)   into  this  way,  which  is  surely 
a.cc€pt:\ble.     But  this  is  a  narrow  way,    and  only  few  do 
find  it ;  yet  there  is  a  v/ay  whirh  seems  right    to  many, 
and  is  called  the  worship  of  God  by  prayer  and  singing — 
tills  way  is  lear'^ed  !3y  men  and  of  spirits,  who  are  neither 
of,  nor  sent  by  Christ,  but  have  come  of  themselves  to 
deceive.     Cbrist  fore? pake  that  there  should  be  deceivers, 
false  prophets  and  false  Christs,  who  should  come  in  his 
name  and  deceive  many  ;    nay,    the  very  elect  if  it  were 
possible. — These  have  the  form  of  prayer,  singing  and  ot 
godliness  ;  but  they  deny  the  power,,  because  they  are  not 
pure  but  defiled,  as  the  apostle  says  in  Titus,  "  profess- 
ing that  they  know  Ood,  but   in  work   deny   him."     By 
this  sort  of  worshippers  many  a  precious  lamb  is  entang- 
led     and    wounded — others    utterly  slam,  by  continuing 
with  them — being  beguiled  by  their  outward  appearances- 
of  Godliness,  sat  up  by  them  in  their  own  order,   where- 
by they  uss  many  words,  and  make  long  prayers,  in  and 
at  the  time  they  meet  together  in  their   sinagogues,  or  in 
other  places  ;  which,  indeed,    has    a  beautiful   show  of 
Godliness,  to  him  (or  them)  whose    eyes    are   beguiled, 
and  are  in  a  measure  ensnared  by  their  seemed  devotion, 
prayers  and  ordinary  songs,  v/hich  they  sing  &  use  just  as 
they  please,  and  when  they  please.    Sometimes  it  pleases 
God  to  strip  them-of  their  vices  and  common  used  words  ; 
— they  then    call  it    taking  up    the    cross,  and   so    force^ 
themselves  to  bring  an  offering  of  words.     This  clearly 
appears  to  me  be  like  the    offering  of  Saul,  who    forced 
himself  and  offered  an  offering  that  caused  Samuel  to  re- 
prove him  for  his  foolishness,  for  he  was  at  that  time  he- 
guiled  and  knew  not  how  to  remain  still  or  silent,  norv: 


(     149     ) 

T/ait  for  the  messenger  of  God,  altho'  he    (before  thisr) 
had  received  the  anointment  of  the  Lord. 

I  said  Saul  was  beguiled— -so  is  the  case  with  many  pre- 
cious souls,  after  they  have  bcen^  anointed  with  the  quick- 
ening spirit ;  for  when  they  are  brouoht  to  any  strait,  they 
then  force  themselves  as  Saul  did,  and  bring  an  offerinp- 
of  words,  which  shows  their  foolishness — -they  cannot 
content  thems  v  s,  nor  wait  with  patience  for  the  comin<^ 
of  the  prophet  or  true  messenger  of  the  Lord,  to  instruct 
them  how  to  bring  forth  an  acceptai)le  offering  to  the 
living  God.  This  messenger  is  the,  one,  who  at  first 
anointed  us  with  the  holy  anointment  ;  even  v/ith  the 
Holy  Ghost,  who  is  sent  to  the  righteous  to  instruct  them 
how  to  bring  forth  their  offerings  in  an  acceptable  mr.n- 
ner.  Saul  had  the  promise  of  Samuel's  com  in  jv  to  him 
so  those  who  are  anointed  with  or  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
have  the  promise  of  his  coming  ;  and  when  he  ccmeth  to 
them  who  truly  wait  tor  him,  they  are  then  made  able  to 
bring  forth  an  acceptable  offering,  which"  is  their  Yeason- 
able  services  ;  (that  is  to  say)  pray,  sing  or  speak  lo  the 
people  by  way  of  preaching.  Without  this  messenger, 
no  one  can  do  any  thing  acceptable  to  God,  as  Christ 
hath  said '*  without  me  ye  can  do  nothino-."  All  that  a 
man  doeth,  without  this  messenger  beino-  the  author  of 
it,  he  doeth  by  the  deceiving  spirit  uhich  makes  him 
think  that  he  has  done  his  duty,  when  he  sung,  prayed 
or  spoke  amongst  the  people,  when  met  together  in  any 
place  or  sinagggue,  - 

i  have  now  written' to  thee,  my  friend,  what  has  been 
given  to  me  by  t;  e  living  messenger,  to  write  unto  my 
friends,  that  ye  might  all  see  the  difference  between  pray- 
ing and  singing  right  or  wrong  ;  lor  I  learned  the  wrong 
sort  of  praying  and  singing  amongstyou,  and  caused  me  Vo 
act  contrary  to  what  is  recorded  m  St.  BTatthew,  6th  chap- 
ter, 5 — 6 — 't  and  8th  verses  ;  which  things  I  had  to  leave 
off  or  perish,  anv^  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God,  ■ 

Try  your  worship,  my   beloved  liiends,   by  ccm.mg  to 
the  touch-stone  which    is   disallowed  by  mi^ny    builders 
yet  it  shall  become  the  head  stone  of  the  corner  whereon 
the  true  church  is  built,  that  the  gates  of  hell  cannot  pf-e- 
Taii  against ;    yet  this  stone  is  sat  for  the  fail  and  rise  of 

N  2 


(      150     ) 

many,  and  for  a  sign  which  shall  be  spoken  against  as  2 
stumbling  stone,  and  a  rock  of  offence,  to  such  that  do  not 
believe  in  him,  but  stumble  on  the  stumbling  stone  laid 
on  Zian  for  a  foundation,  on  which  the  living  church  is 
built. 

My  beloved  friends,  if  you  will  only  be  wise,  an,d  try 
your  v/orsaip  by  this  touch  stone,  your  eyes  will  then  be 
opened,  and  you  will  sec  that  there  is  another  spirit,  who 
is  not  of  oar  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  "has  the  pre-eminence  a- 
mongst  you — that  it  leads  many  precious  souls  captive 
• — makes  them  make  longer  or  shorter  prayers  and  sing- 
ing, at  almost  all  of  your  public  or  private  meetings  ;  but 
my  btlcved  Iriends,  I  dp  not  write  this  to  upbraid  or  de- 
grade you,  but  as  to  my  beloved,  who  I  greatl}^  long  fcr, 
in  the  bowels  of  that  spirit  that  at  first  did  quicken  me, 
and  brought  me  out  of  Satan's  kingdom  into  his  heavenly 
Itingdo  n,  where  all  is  light  and  no  darkness  at  all.  I  say, 
in  these  bowels  I  greatly  long  that  you  might  all  be  bro't 
home  to  the  true  foundation,  and  forever  be  made  able  to 
stand  thereon. 

Dearl)^  beloved  and  longed  for,  you  now  may  see  that  I 
cId  not  write  this  to  upbraid  or  degrade  you,  but  I  write 
5t  because  it  was  given  me  by  the  living  messenger,  to  re* 
inind  and  forwarn  yoU  ^11  of  that  spirit  which  has  crept, 
beguiled  &  defiie.l  soma  ly  of  }ou,  which  you  were  igno- 
rant and  n  n  awiire  of,  I'his  enemy  has  c.rept  in  at  un- 
aw-ares,  and  has  done  a  great  deal  of  damage  amongst  you, 
hy  making  or  contriving  the  greatest  part  of  your  worship, 
which  is  carried  on  by  the  wisdom  of  men,  and  makes  the 
worshippers  thereof  pray,  sing,  speak  to  the  people  or  a- 
amongstthe  people,  just  when  they  please,  and  as  often 
as  they  please  ;  \vhether  it  be  to  pray  or  sing.  This  is  he 
Vi'bo  doth  come  in  sheep's  clothmg,  anti  who  is  inw^ardly 
a  ravenous  wolf — this  is  he  who  doth^md  will  destroy 
your  folds— ^this  is  he  who  catcheih  and  carrieth  av/ay 
the  young  and  tender  lambs,  u  ho  have  got  but  late  desires 
to  the  sincere  niilk  of  the  word  of  God-^^his  is  he  who 
s€?t  those  tender  ones  to  work  on  the  false  foundation,  be- 
fore they  are  able  to  discern  between  the  true  or  the  false 
foundation— this  is  be  who  is  the  only  destroyer  of  the 
T.bilrch,  (\nd  thou  did  reckon  that  I  was  him  ;  but  I  am 
"  'j%  of  hirrj,  s*6hber  have  I  any  fellowship  with  him  '^  but 


(      151     ) 

l*fdr\ram  you  all  of  him,   thatf  you  may  take  care  and  be 

aware,  lest  he  should  destroy  your  precious  souls.) this 

is  he  whom  the  Lord  has  thrown,  (even  what  I  learned  in 
and  oi  thy  society  ;  that  is,  prayjng  and  singing  at  the  be- 
ginning and  end  of  almost  every  ineeting,)— this  is  he 
who  made  me  examine  tie  class  in  the  private  meetings, 
whereby  many  that  were  wounded,  instead  o*' being  lualed 
were  wounded  worse  by  telling  them  lies — this  is  he  who 
made  me  say  "  pray  Brother,"  (  md  he  would  utter  some 
woids  which  were  called  p.ayerj  forcing  him  to  this  offer- 
ing, in  which  the  Lord  had  no  pleasure — this  is  he  who 
made  me  collect  mone}^  from  the  weak  to  give  to  the 
strong,  who  were  able  to  work  with  their  own  hands. — . 
Ttie.se  are  che  tnings  I  learned  of  the  Methodists,  but 
the  Lord  has  thrown  them  down  from  me^  and  will  throw 
them  down  from  many  more  hereafter. 

My  dei^r  friend,  I  ncieby  declare  that  T  do  not  aim 
(or  desire)  to  raise  up  a  name  unto  myself,  or  a  new  sect 
of  people,  as  thoa  seems  to  think  by  thy  letter;  but  I  de- 
sire th  I  the  na  ne  of  Christ  may,  be  raised  up  amongst 
you  and  ali  others,  and  be  glorili-.-d  forever. 

Now  iiv  dear  friend,  as  tho-.i  hast  bidden  me  farewell, 
I  do,  and  shall  always  wish  thee  may  do  well,  both  in  this 
world  and  ht-realtt'r;  and  as  thou  are  determined  not  to 
follow  me,  sq  1  am  determined,  by  the  help  of  Christ,  ne- 
ver to  leave  inward  discipline  to  join  the  outward,  until 
it  be  purged  from  .he  tilth  of  the  flesh,  and  become  one 
with  the  mward,  and  be  perfectly  jomed  in  one  by  Jesus 
Christ,      rhis  is  from  thy  fri^^nd, 

PETKH  CLE?JMONS,Senr. 

30th  day  of  the  3d  month,  1782. 

To  my  friend  Halfteld,  and  to  all  my  other  beloved 
friends,  called  by  the  name  of  Methodists* 

CHAPTER  XXIIL 

CONCLUSION. 

LET  no  man  tl~'ink  harshly  or  Icok  with  a  despising  eye 
on  tiie  Methodists,  on  account  of  the  foregoing  answer  to 
'  le  ktter  ssnt  to  me  by  one  of  their  member  f    for  i  be.- 


(      n2     ) 

lieve  that  there  are  some  well  meaning  people  amoBf^s! 
them — but  iei  ah  v\  ho  mi.y  reiid  or  hear  it,  seriously  en- 
quire, vihtihcr  'heir  pra)  trs  and  praises,  spring  from  the 
right  lOuntuin  *r  from  the  wrong — m  hether  ii  is  by  the 
will  and  wisdcrtu  oi'  men,  or  the  movings  of  grace  ;  for  it 
is  noi  bv  the  will  nor  wisdom  of  men,  (hat  any  are  saved,  .^ 
but  it  is  bv  the  virtuous  movements  oi  grace  alone  ;  not  "f 
onl}  o.^  this  or  that  society  ^— but  all  who  do  the  will  of 
God  here  on  earth,  and  answer  the  end  ior  which  they 
were  created. 

Thus  I  end,  and  it  mav  be  for  ever; 

PETER  CLEIMMONS,  Senr. 
2Sth  of  9th  month,   1811. 

N.  B.     Having    withdraAvn    myself,    fas  befm*e  meii- 
tioned)  from  the  Methodist  society,  they  concluded  thut 
I  should notspeak  in  theirnewmeeting-house  j  (which     did  ^ 
not  know)  but  returning  from    meeting;  -1  called  at  said 
new  meeting    house,    where   the    society  were  gathered  i 
together  to  hold  prayer-meeting- — I  went  into  the   house    j 
as  a  hearer — as  I  was  sitting  down  instill  behaviour,  and   * 
hnving  not  opened  my  mouth,  in    any    way  of    exhorta^ 
tion  ;  one  of  the  ruling  members  got  up,  and  acquuihting 
me  of  their  conclusion,  told  me  publicly,  that   I    was  ncft 
to  be  suffered  to  speak  in  their  meeting-house  ;    and  that 
it  was  for  no  other  reason,  but  because   I  had  withdravi-fi 
in^'self  from  them*     This  eccasicned  me  to  compose  xh^  ■ 
following  verses  : 

1   One  thing'  I  very  well  do  know",' 
That  I  was  blind,  Init  now  I  see  j 
Therefore  I  am  disallowed. 
By  the  head  a-f  their  assembly. 

7>^Bm  to  the  Lord  may  I  thus  go^ 

And  nothing  else  besides  him  know  r 
And  in   his  love  may  1  thus  be, 
3n  this  life  and  eternity^ 


3  O  !  .mav  it  be    my  happy  lot. 

To  tell  the  wonders  he  hath  wrought  | 
After  bein^  thus  cast  away, 
The  Lord  will  be  my  whole  joy. 

4  And  to  the  Lord,  the  God  on  high, 
O  !  may  all  of  our  praises  fly  ; 
When  our  bodies  in  dust  do  lye, 

O  !   may  our  souls  to  heaven  fly. 

5  O  !  may  this  be  our  happy  lot, 

JWe  that  Christ  has  so  dearly  bought  j 
Then  unto  him  O  !  let  us  go, 
And  leave  this  sinful  world  below. 

6  O  !  Lord  of  hosts  help  us  along. 
And  give  us  grace  to  sing  this  song  ; 
And  when  we4eave  this  world  below^ 
O  !  may  we  to  thy  kingdom  go. 

3o  I  end  in  love  and  peace^  Amen. 

POOR  PETER  CLEMMONS,  Semv 


FIN  IS. 


INDEX. 


Page 


:io 


CHAPTER  r. 

Our  spiritual  travel  to  a  Christian  life, 

CHAPTER IL 

OfWftr,  -  -  -  - 

CHAPTER  HI. 

lie  injustice  of  Slavery,  -  -  -  43 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  danger  of  bad  Counsel,  -  .  -  iT" 

CHAPTER  V. 
The  safety  of  good  Counsel,  -  -  -        SI 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Advice  to  my  sons,  concerningtheir  duty  in  a  ra^^rried  life,  86 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Advice  to  ray  daughters,  concerning  their  duty  in  a  married 
life,  -  -  -  -91 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Advice  to  all  my  children,   concerning   their   duty  to  their 
children,  -  •  •  '«  93 

Chapter  ix* 

On   the      forc'crdination    of  God,     by  a   sr.ppo3ed   secret 
council,  .  „  ,  105 

CHAPTER  X.  ^ 

#£  the  difference    between  reality,   and  the   likeness  and 
form.  «  .  «  117 


1 

CHAPTER  XL'  ' 

Of  the  truly  Baptized,  -       '  -  \2i 

CHAPTER  XIL 

Some  marks  given  cf  these  that  use  the  form,  instead  of  the 
substance  ol  baptism,  -  -         125 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Of  a  separation  between  the  rii^hteous  and  the  wicked ;  Cod*s 
blessing  on  the  righteous,  -  -  127 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

All  married  men  ought   to  keep  a  right  authority ,    and  love 
God  more  than  their  wives,  -  -  —  '^     ,12c 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Second  charge  to  my  daughters,  to  discharge  their  duties  in 
love  to  God  and  their  husbands,  -  -       1:9 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Of  the  necessity  to  walk  in  the  love  and  fear  of  God — of  the 
three  friends  and  the  three  noisy  things  on  earth,'      13' 

CHAPTER   XVIL 

Do  not  forget  the  commandments  of  the  Lord,^  1 S2 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  dangerof  stopping  short  of  entering  the  ho'y  land,  ar.d 
of  receiving  the  image  of  God  again,  -  1  - 

CHAP1  ER  XiX. 

Encourage: #^nt  to  Sinners  to  ccrae  to  Chi4st  and  be  sa'\'€d,  141^ 

CHAPTER    XX. 
Dream  o.r  Vision,  .  .  - 

CHAPTER   XXI. 
Second  Dream  or.  Vision, 

CHAPTER  XXll. 

■  A  Letter  giving  my  reasons  \vhy    I   left  the   Methodist  sf 
ciety,  -  -  -  ^- 

CKAPTER  XXIIL 

Conclusion,  -  *  -  - 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

PRESENTED  BY 

Elizabeth  Sale 


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